Surrounded By Words

TGIF at GReads! {28}

2012-01-27T00:00:00.000-06:00

Buy or Borrow: Where do your books that you read come from? The bookstore? The library? Do you prefer to own a book, or have it on loan?

I prefer to own a book, even though it's going to put me into debt for the rest of my life. I like to know that if I really love a book, I have it at my fingertips. So many times books are a source of comfort, so I like knowing they're there if I need them. One of the reasons I got an ereader was so that I could carry around 300+ books with me. You never know when you'll be stuck in a traffic standstill for untold hours and might need a book or two. It was also less weight in the purse than the 2 or 3 books I would need with me. (This doesn't mean you won't find me with an ereader AND print book in my bag. In case the battery dies, right?)

Now, this doesn't mean I'm opposed to borrowing a book! I lend books back and forth with friends all the time, and am always willing to loan out a book of mine. I'm all about sharing the love. I will also use the library, although sometimes I have moments of "OMG WHERE HAS THIS BOOK BEEN?!" I"m also really bad about returning the books to the library. I'm an ace at returning books to people I know, but the library...forget it. In fact, today I'm going to confess my sins to the Library Pope and pay my fine so that I can become an active library patron again. I'm trying to become more financially aware and that includes purchasing less books. This will only work if I can return the library books and not pay the same in fines that I would purchasing the dang book.

Tune in Tuesday {23}

2012-01-24T00:20:00.000-06:00

Tune in Tuesday is one of my favorite features! It's hosted by Ginger at GReads! and helps bring attention to new and/or old songs or artists. Music makes my little world go round, and I love sharing what I like and finding new music through this feature.

Last week, I featured one of Jenny Lewis' solo songs. This week is her band, Rilo Kiley!

Fun fact: Anyone remember the Nickelodeon show Salute Your Shorts? How about the character Ronnie Pinsky, played by Blake Sennett? WELL! Blake Sennett (then known as Blake Soper) is the lead guitarist for Rilo Kiley! Yes, that's right. It's 80's child star heaven in Rilo Kiley. Not only that, but they are a seriously awesome band.

I couldn't decide which song to put up, so you're going to get two. The first one is the first song I heard by Rilo Kiley and it was instant love. (This is also seriously old school Rilo Kiley.) Their music makes me happy, that's all I can say! They have some songs like this one that are just completely random and others that tell awesome stories. (I have a thing for songs like that, can you tell?) The second song is just one that I love.

"The Frug"

"Breakin' Up"

Cover Reveal: Predestined (Existence #2) by Abbi Glines

2012-01-20T00:33:00.000-06:00

If you've been following me for a bit, you might have noticed that I love Abbi Glines. Her books are awesome, she's super sweet, and I've been lucky enough to have had the chance to review all of her books so far. I'm extremely excited to be part of the cover reveal for Predestined (Existence #2)! If you haven't read Existence, you may want to skip the description. It's a tad spoilery. And by 'tad', I mean very. But you can still gaze upon the cover with delight!

Without further ado:

You would think after helping save her boyfriend from an eternity in Hell that things would go back to normal. Well, as normal as life can be when you can see souls and your boyfriend is Death. But for Pagan Moore, things are just getting weirder.

The high school quarterback and reigning heartthrob, Leif Montgomery, is missing. While the town is in a frenzy of worry, Pagan is a nervous wreck for other reasons. Apparently good ol' Leif isn't your average teenage boy. He isn't even human. According to Death, Leif doesn't have a soul. The quarterback may have skipped town but he's still showing up in Pagan's dreams...uninvited.

Dank has known from the beginning that Leif wasn't human. But he hadn't worried about a simple soulless creature. Now, he realizes he made a grave mistake. Pagan's soul has been marked since birth as a restitution, to a spirit so dark not even Death walks near it. Dank knows saving Pagan's soul won't be easy but Pagan is his. And he's already proven he'll defy Heaven to keep her. If Hell wants a piece of him too, then bring it on. (Summary from Goodreads.com)

I think this cover is freaking fabulous! Predestined will be released in April 2012. In the meantime, check out the Facebook page and keep an eye on Abbi's website for more information. Also, please check out my reviews and features for Abbi's books!

To help you get ready for the book release, and wet you appetite just a bit, I have the Predestined Playlist! I love book playlists because they can help set the tone for the book. Music expresses so much more than words, and I love getting to see into the author's head through the playlist. Enjoy!!!

Tune In Tuesday {22}

2012-01-17T12:52:00.001-06:00

Story time!!!

When I was growing up, one of my favorite movies was Troop Beverly Hills. I thought it was absolutely fabulous and would go around my house pretending to be Phyllis Nefler, clomping around in my Mom's heels. Adorable image, right? I know. I was pretty darn cute. Moving on.

Jenny Lewis is one of my favorite singer/songwriters. Her voice is beautiful and her lyrics can both break your heart and make you laugh. Some of my favorite songs by her have these wonderfully cheeky lyrics. And every song tells a story. If I'm ever trapped on a desert island, there had better be some Jenny Lewis music to get me through! As I watched more videos of her performing, I realized there was something familiar about her, so I did a little research. Jenny Lewis played Hannah Nefler in Troop Beverly Hills!

BAM! My childhood and adulthood collided!

Today I'm featuring one of my favorite Jenny Lewis videos. This is a great story song, and the video is perfect for it. Enjoy!

"See Fernando" by Jenny Lewis

2011 Reading Wrap-Up

2012-01-16T00:00:00.000-06:00

So, yes, things have been a little slow here at Surrounded By Words this year, but you'll have that sometimes. And perhaps some of you think that 16 days into the new year is a little late to do a wrap up of my reading of the year before. It's also a little late to finish the first book of the new year, but that happened yesterday. Such is life.

I set a reading goal of 75 books for last year and I read 80! According to Goodreads I only read 72 books, but some of them were re-reads and I didn't want to change the original "Read On" date. So boo hiss on Goodreads and Yay! for me exceeding my goal! This year's goal is 100!

Here's my 2011 reading list:

My Soul to Lose (Soul Screamers # 0.5) by Rachel Vincent 1/11/11
My Soul to Take (Soul Screamers #1) by Rachel Vincent 1/12/11
My Soul to Save (Soul Screamers #2) by Rachel Vincent 1/27/11
Here Lies Bridget by Paige Harbison 1/28/11
My Soul to Keep (Soul Screamers #3 by Rachel Vincent 2/3/11
Reaper (Soul Screamers #3.5) by Rachel Vincent 2/3/11
Across the Universe by Beth Revis 2/5/11
The Vespertine by Saundra Mitchell 2/7/11
Awaken by Katie Kacvinsky 2/9/11
The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan 2/11/11
The Dead-Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan 2/13/11
Feed by M. T. Anderson 2/22/11
Matched by Ally Condie 3/8/11
The Last Little Blue Envelope by Maureen Johnson 3/12/11
City of Bones by Cassandra Clare 3/18/11
White Cat by Holly Black 4/3/11
The Summer Before by Ann M. Martin 4/4/11
The Baby-Sitters Club #1: Kristy's Great Idea by Ann M. Martin 4/5/11
The Baby-Sitters Club #2: Claudia and the Phantom Phone Calls by Ann M. Martin 4/8/11
The Baby-Sitters Club #3: The Truth About Stacey by Ann M. Martin 4/10/11
The Search by Nora Roberts 4/14/11
Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery 4/16/11 (re-read)
Bumped by Megan McCafferty 4/22/11
Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins 4/26/11
Lover's Dictionary by David Levithan 4/26/11
The Baby-Sitters Club #4: Mary Anne Saves the Day by Ann M. Martin 5/1/11
The Baby-Sitters Club #5: Dawn and the Impossible Three by Ann M. Martin 5/2/11
Cold Case by Julia Platt Leonard 5/13/11
The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen 5/17/11
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J. K. Rowling 5/23/11 (re-read)
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J. K. Rowling 5/26/11 (re-read)
Ultraviolet by R. J. Anderson 5/29/11
Incarceron by Catherine Fisher 6/1/11
Shadow Magic by Jaida Jones and Danielle Bennett 6/3/11 (re-read)
Havemercy by Jaida Jones and Danielle Bennett 6/5/11 (re-read)
Dragon Soul by Jaida Jones and Danielle Bennett 6/7/11
Beauty Queens by Libba Bray 6/11/11
Die for Me by Amy Plum 6/13/11
Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma 6/20/11
Montana Sky by Nora Roberts 6/24/11
Spellbound by Cara Lynn Shultz 6/27/11
Nerds Girls: The Rise of the Dorkasaurus by Alan Lawrence Sitomer 07/02/11
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald 07/08/11
Love Story by Jennifer Echols 07/18/11
Breathe by Abbi Glines 07/20/11
Twilight by Stephenie Meyer 07/30/11
Wildefire by Karsten Knight 07/31/11
Wake by Lisa McMann/ 08/01/11
Fade by Lisa McMann 08/02/11
The Help by Kathryn Stockett 08/13/11
Steel Hands by Jaida Jones and Danielle Bennett 08/17/11
The Unwanteds by Lisa McMann 08/20/11
Born of Night by Sherrilyn Kenyon 08/22/11
Damage Control by Denise Hamilton 08/24/11
Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld 08/25/11
Behemoth by Scott Westerfeld 08/29/11
Drink, Slay, Love by Sarah Beth Durst 09/04/11
Wisdom's Kiss by Catherine Gilbert Murdock 09/2011 (I waited too long to add it and forgot the date)
Divergent by Veronica Roth 09/2011 (Same with this one)
Goliath by Scott Westerfeld 10/07/11
Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs 10/08/11
A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness 10/14/11
The Vincent Boys by Abbi Glines 10/15/11
The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson 10/16/11
Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman 11/01/11
Scott Pilgrim's Precious Little Life by Bryan Lee O'Malley 11/02/11
Scott Pilgrim vs. The World by Bryan Lee O'Malley 11/04/11
Going Too Far by Jennifer Echols 11/08/11
Forget You by Jennifer Echols 11/12/11
Scott Pilgrim and the Infinite Sadness by Bryan Lee O'Malley 11/17/11
The Boys Next Door by Jennifer Echols 11/18/11
Scott Pilgrim Gets It Together by Bryan Lee O'Malley 11/19/11
Scott Pilgrim vs The Universe by Bryan Lee O'Malley 11/22/11
Scott Pilgrim's Finest Hour by Bryan Lee O'Malley 11/22/11
Existence by Abbi Glines 11/26/11
Endless Summer by Jennifer Echols 11/27/11
The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman 12/03/11
Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare 12/08/11
Where Things Come Back by John Corey Whaley 12/14/11
Cinder by Marissa Meyer 12/26/11

John Green Week {Day Two}

2012-01-04T00:00:00.000-06:00

Welcome to John Green Week Day Two!

I have this notebook full of quotes. Whenever I hear anything I like, be it from a book, movie, TV show, etc, I write it down in this notebook. Some are funny, some are serious. All have touched some part of me. The beauty held in words will never cease to amaze me. I wanted to share some of my favorite John Green quotes with you all, from both videos and books.

...if people were rain, I was drizzle and she was a hurricane. ~Looking for Alaska

Jesus, I'm not going to be one of those people who sites around talking about what they're going to do. I'm just going to do it. Imagining the future is a kind of nostalgia...You spend your whole life stuck in the labyrinth, thinking about how you'll escape it one day, and how awesome it will be, and imagining that future keeps you going, but you never do it. You just use the future to escape the prison. ~Looking for Alaska

And I wanted to tell her that the pleasure for me wasn't planning or doing or leaving; the pleasure was in seeing our strings cross and separate and then come back together. ~Papertowns

Books are the ultimate Dumpees: put them down and they'll wait for you forever; pay attention to them and they always love you back. ~An Abundance of Katherines

You like someone who can't like you back because unrequited love can be survived in a way that once-requited love cannot. ~Will Grayson, Will Grayson (Admittedly, I haven't read this one yet, but I say this quote on Goodreads and thought it was beautiful.)

What a treacherous thing to believe that a person is more than a person. ~Papertowns

When did we see each other face to face? Not until you saw into my cracks and I saw into yours. Before that, we were just looking at ideas of each other, like looking at your window shade but never seeing inside. But once the vessel cracks, like can get in. The light can get out. ~Papertowns

{This next quote is from a Vlogbrothers video, and John said this statement with such passion. Of course, I can't for the life of me remember which one.}

In the contemporary world where things fall apart and the center cannot hold, you have to imagine a community where there is no center.

True love will triumph in the end - which may or may not be a lie, but if it is a lie, it's the most beautiful lie we have.

{And finally, one that sums everything up.}

Maybe our favorite quotations say more about us than about the stories and people we're quoting.

John Green Week: Jan. 3rd - 10th {Day One}

2012-01-03T00:56:00.000-06:00

Happy John Green Week!!

John Green Week is being hosted by an awesome group of bloggers and runs from January 3rd through 10th, which is also the day his latest book, The Fault in Our Stars, is being released. This is a week dedicated to celebrating the awesome that is John Green. In addition to sharing my love for John Green and his books with you, I will also be reading Will Grayson/Will Grayson, which is the only book of his that I have not read.

First, a thank you to all the blogs hosting John Green Week:

Britney and Farrah - (I Eat Words)

Ginger - (GReads Books)

Anna - (Anna Reads Books)

Lindsi (Books, Sweets, and other Treats)

Melanie (Reclusive Bibliophile)

Tara (Fiction Folio)

Yani (The Secret Life of an Avid Reader)

Jamie (The Perpetual Page-Turner)

Liz (ElizzieBooks)

Heidi (YA Bibliophile)

Priscilla (The Readables)

I was introduced to John Green in 2008. Before I had read any of his books, I had made my way through at least half of the Vlogbrothers videos. For those of you who don't know, in 2007 John and his brother, Hank, decided to go one year without any textual communication. No texts, e-mails, Skype chats, etc. Instead, they started making daily YouTube videos in a project they called Brotherhood 2.0. This not only brought them closer as brothers, but created a massive community of people dedicated to decreasing world suck. These people are called Nerdfighters, and I'm proud to count myself among them.

One of my favorite things about John Green is his ability to make me laugh. He's also brilliant and poignant, but he's brightened many a dreary day for me, and decreased my own personal world suck, by being hilarious. I thought I would share a couple of my favorite funny John Green videos with you today. I'm sure I will share more videos with you this week, but this felt like a good place to start. I'm going to start with one of his most recent videos that had me laughing my butt off.

During the first year of the Vlogbrothers, John and Hank agreed to post videos on alternating days (except for Sunday) with the agreement that if one missed a day, a punishment was to be issued. This video is one of my favorite John Green punishments.

This next video isn't necessarily one that made me roll on the floor with laughter, but I love it and think it's brilliant. How Nerdfighters Drop Insults.

Don't forget to stop by I Eat Words, or any of the hosting blogs, and check out all the blogs participating in John Green Week! And leave a comment to let me know you were here!

TGIF at GReads! {27}

2011-12-30T00:00:00.000-06:00

TGIF is a weekly feature hosted by Ginger over at GReads! Each week, Ginger asks her followers a question to help us get to know one another better. It's also a chance to re-cap blog posts from the past week.

First, a little word about where I've been. I have not abandoned my blog! Things have been super crazy over here in Real Life for me and my blog just kind of fell by the wayside. I needed to give my attention to my family, especially my Mom who has been really sick. When this posts, I will be at a New Year's Retreat with God only knows how many Jr. and Sr. High kids. I'm really looking forward to recharging my batteries and starting 2012 off strong! Thanks for sticking with me!

Now, on to this week's question:

First & Last: What was the first book you read in 2011 and the last you finished in 2011? How do you feel about these books? Would you recommend them to other readers?

The first book I read in 2011 was My Soul to Lose by Rachel Vincent. It's the prequel novella to the Soul Screamers series, and I instantly fell in love. If you love paranormal urban fantasy, with sizzling romance and teenage angst, I would HIGHLY recommend this book/series. Rachel Vincent is awesome at all of the above and then some.

At this point, I'm not sure what the last book I'll read in 2011 will be! I'm writing this Tuesday night because I'm leaving straight from work Wednesday to go to my church's campgrounds for the New Year's Retreat and I'll be there until Sunday afternoon. My last book of the year is either going to be Cinder by Marissa Meyer, or The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien. It really depends on how much reading I get done at the retreat. Which will probably be none.

My prediction for the last book of 2011 is Cinder. I really loved this book and would highly recommend it to anyone! It has that awesome futuristic, almost dystopian feel, mixed with a fairy tale story. I seriously can't wait for the next books in the series. You should all get this one when it comes out on Tuesday! Since I had to send the ARC to the next person for the DAC ARC blog tour, I'll be getting my own copy then, too!

Tune in Tuesday {21} - Concert Edition

2011-12-20T00:00:00.000-06:00

December is Concert Edition!

This week, I'm featuring a band that I would sell my soul to see live: Blue October. Sometimes a band's music will come to mean so much to you, and that's how it is for me with Blue October. On just a surface level, their songs are great. When you really start to pay attention, not only is the music amazing and the lyrics will blow your mind. Some are great to rock out to and others will break your heart with beautiful lyrics. Justin Furstenfeld, the lead singer, is so bold with his music. He's not afraid to share about his experience and struggles with mental illness, suicide, and addiction. This is what has made me love Blue October on a more personal level.

Last year, I was in outpatient rehab for narcotic addiction. I was devastated at the time and felt like a failure. I had to drive 30 minutes to get to the treatment facility and for the first week I would blast Blue October and cry. As the stuff I was hearing in treatment started sinking in, I started to relate to more of Blue October's music. I listened to it every time I drove to and from treatment for 3 months, and it helped me have the courage to keep going. 20 months later and I'm still going strong!! I also know that I'm NOT a failure and have, in fact, succeeded on a very big level.

I would love to experience Blue October's music live. I think they would put on such a kick ass show! They're coming to Biloxi, Mississippi next spring and I'm determined to make that happen!! Here are some of my favorite Blue October songs.

"Into the Ocean"

"Calling You"

"18th Floor Balcony"

Scott Pilgrim Rocks My World

2011-12-19T00:36:00.000-06:00

Scott Pilgrim Graphic Novel Series Volumes 1 - 6 [Scott Pilgrim's Precious Little Life (08/18/04); Scott Pilgrim vs. The World (06/15/05); Scott Pilgrim and the Infinite Sadness (05/24/06); Scott Pilgrim Gets It Together (11/14/07); Scott Pilgrim vs. The Universe (02/18/09); Scott Pilgrim's Finest Hour (07/20/10)]
Author: Bryan Lee O'Malley
Publisher: Oni Press
Source: Personal Library

Scott Pilgrim's life is totally sweet. He's 23 years old, he's in a rock band, he's "between jobs", and he's dating a cute high school girl. Nothing could possibly go wrong, unless a seriously mind-blowing, dangerously fashionable, rollerblading delivery girl named Ramona Flowers starts cruising through his dreams and sailing by him at parties. Will Scott's awesome life get turned upside down? Will he have to face Ramona's seven evil ex-boyfriends in battle? (Summary from Goodreads.com)

This was my first experience reading a graphic novel and, I have to say, it completely exceeded my expectations. Given my experience in art, I'm actually surprised I didn't look into graphic novels before now. One of my close friends ~~insisted~~ recommended that I read the Scott Pilgrim books, and I finally gave in. I purchased the first one when I was in New York and immediately wished I had bought the entire set!

I was pleasantly surprised at the depth of the characters. As an artist, you would think that I would have been a little more open to graphic novels in the past, and not so surprised. If anyone understands the depth that can be expressed from a single frame or picture, it should be me! Sadly, this was not the case. My eyes have definitely been opened and I have Scott Pilgrim to thank!

These book are so freaking hilarious! There were so many little things that made me laugh out loud. If I tried to explain any of them, you'd all think I was nuts. You really have to read the books. There are also so many awesome supporting characters! I think my favorite was Wallace Wells, Scott's gay roommate. They share a very tiny apartment and one bed. Wallace just adds a little something to the story that would be sorely missed without him.

In the beginning I wasn't so sure I was going to like Ramona. It took me a bit to warm up to Ramona, but I became very invested in the outcome of their relationship. Scott is a total slacker, but completely endearing. Kim is another one of my favorite characters. She's in a band with Scott called Sex Bob-omb, and rocks out on the drums. I was just as invested with the storyline surrounding Kim as I was with Ramona and Scott. I was very happy that Kim got her own awesome ending. And you have to give Sex Bob-omb some credit: they aren't that great but dang it, they keep trying!

Reading the books is a little like reading a video game, which was fine with me! Scott earns coins when he defeats an evil ex (although once he earned bunnies, which was something of a letdown for him), extra lives, and one-ups along the way. I thought it was a really creative and random aspect of the storyline, but at the same time felt completely natural.

I cracked myself up when I was reading these because I kept wondering if I was spending enough time on one page. How long are you supposed to linger? How long does it take the average person to take in all the elements in each frame and on each page? Was I taking enough time? Should I read that page again? Ridiculous, I know. But this is how my mind works. Whether I spent enough time pondering each page or not, I enjoyed these books immensely and will definitely be looking for more from Bryan O'Malley in the future. I've heard mixed opinions about the movie, but I'll definitely be checking it out. I have some pretty strong images of the characters in my mind, though, so we'll see how they stack up.

For more about Bryan Lee O'Malley, check out his website.

I'm really interested in reading more graphic novels. Anyone with recs, leave them in the comments!

TGIF at GReads! {26}

2011-12-16T00:00:00.000-06:00

Most Popular: Which blog post has gotten the most comments/activity on your blog this year?

Confession: I've always felt kind of let down by the number of views I see on my posts. I now believe this is because I've never gone back and looked at past posts, just the most current ones. I will not be making this mistake again. Holy buckets!

I don't get a lot of comments for some reason. But my post that has gotten the most page views this year has also gotten the most comments. I'm going to give you my top 6 posts that have gotten the most page views this year, starting with the lowest.

6. I'm a Ravenclaw, I Like to Read Books - This post was all about my experience at LeakyCon (a Harry Potter Con) and some about the journey that got me there. I was really surprised at the number of page views it had gotten this year!

5. Review: Existence by Abbi Glines - I'm really happy this one has gotten more attention, because I loved this book, and I think Abbi's awesome. And it's only been up since Saturday!

4. Review: Feed by M. T. Anderson - When I look at the keyword searches that have led to my blog, searches about this book are consistently on that list. Tons of views. And zero comments. Go figure.

3. Review: Breathe by Abbi Glines - Another great book by Abbi! This was the first book of hers that I reviewed.

2. 25 Days of Jubilation Giveaway - Yay!!! I'm so glad I was able to participate in 25 Days of J this year. There are so many other fabulous blogs participating and I feel so lucky to be on the list with them! You should check out the list of participants here and make sure to enter all the giveaways!

And......

1. Author Interview: Abbi Glines - Are you seeing a pattern here?? If you haven't read anything by Abbi Glines yet, you really need to! She has 3 books out, 2 contemp and 1 paranormal romance! She writes amazing, swoon-worthy boys, and awesome gals. Go get one of her books right now! This post also had the most comments of any other post this year.

There are a couple posts that I wish had gotten a little more attention this year. My review of Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma, for example. This book was so moving and intense. It deals with a really tough subjects, but they were handled with such grace. There was also a really neat post that I found on tumblr and posted on my blog: Date a Girl Who Reads. It's one of my favorites this year and got very little attention.

Since Existence was my only post this week, and it's already linked up there, I'm not going to do a re-cap this week.

I hope everyone has a fabulous weekend!

Existence by Abbi Glines

2011-12-10T00:00:00.000-06:00

Publisher: Wild Child Publishing
Publication Date: 12/13/11
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Source: Received from Author for review

What happens when you are stalked by Death? You fall in love with him, of course. Pagan Moore doesn't cheat Death, instead she falls in love with him.

Seventeen year old Pagan Moore has seen souls her entire life. Once she realized the strangers she often saw walking through walls were not visible to anyone else, she started ignoring them. If she didn't let them know she could see them, they left her alone. Until she steps out of her car on the first day of school and sees an incredibly sexy guy lounging on a picnic table, watching her with an amused smirk on his face. Problem is, she knows he's dead. Not only does he not go away when she ignores him, he does something none of the others have ever done: he speaks. Pagan is fascinated by the soul. What Pagan doesn't realize is that her appointed time to die is drawing near and the wickedly beautiful soul she is falling in love with is not a soul. he is Death and he is about to break all the rules. (Summary from Goodreads.com)

First, a huge thank you to Abbi for the chance to read Existence. I've had the privilege to read advance copies of all three of Abbi's books this year, and they have all been fantastic.When I started reading Existence, I will admit that I had some expectations based on my experiences with Abbi's other books. Some were met, others were exceeded.

Pagan is just your average, ghost-seeing teenager. The ghosts walk in and out of her life and as long as she doesn't let on that they're there, it's not a problem. Then she meets Dank, who unnerves Pagan from the very beginning. Even more unsettling is the fact that he can talk to her, which makes it much harder to ignore him. And this soul seems just as fascinated with her as she is with him. As her interest in Dank grows, so does her interest in Leif, the star football player at her high school. Unfortunately, it's Pagan's appointed time to die. Dank isn't about to let this happen, however. He breaks all the rules and saves her from a deadly car crash. This upsets the balance in the spiritual world and other souls are too happy with Dank's decision. To protect Pagan, Dank takes on human form as a new student at her school, which makes it a little difficult for Pagan to concentrate on her budding relationship with Leif.

Perhaps my favorite thing about this book was that it kept me on my toes. It seriously defied any expectations that I had. Just when I thought I had figured out what the next twist or move was going to be in the book, something completely different happened. I was very pleased with the different twists in the storyline and, seriously, the last line of this book is one of the best I've ever read. It's a perfect cliffhanger.

In my opinion, Abbi Glines is the master of writing swoon-worthy guys! I was completely torn between Dank and Leif. Leif is the hot jock that every girl wants to date. At first he seems to have an ego bigger than the state of Texas, but turns out to have a soft side and big heart. Dank is the rockstar bad boy who is dangerously seductive. He's torn between wanting Pagan to lead a happy life and wanting her to be only with him. Pagan is just as torn as I was for awhile. Dank provides passion and desire, while Leif is stable and safe. All of the characteristics draw Pagan in for different reasons. But which will she choose?

I'm very excited to see what Abbi has in store for us in the sequel to Existence. I was very happy to learn there would be more, because I think there's a lot more to Pagan than we learned about in this book. Especially with relation to her ability to see ghosts. I think this is going to be a great series!

For more about Abbi her other books, please check out her website. You'll find a mini-prequel from Death's perspective on Abbi's blog that she wrote for the YA Scavenger hunt. You can also check out my reviews of Breathe and The Vincent Boys.

TGIF at GReads! {25}

2011-12-09T00:18:00.001-06:00

Book to Movie: Which book turned movie do you feel did the best adaptation? What about the worst?

My opinion of book to movie adaptations has changed some over the years, especially once I heard John Green's opinion on the subject. He thinks that a movie adaptation should be completely different from the book. This gave me a lot to think about on the subject, and with some books I agree, but with other I disagree completely.

For example, Practical Magic. I saw the movie first and it's one of my absolute favorites! I also love Alice Hoffman's writing, so I decided to read the book last month. Whoa. The book and movie are COMPLETELY different, but I really think it's one of my favorite movie adaptations! For one thing, there are things in the book that would not make a good movie. Like the Aunts. In the movie, the Aunts are a fixture, and two of the best characters. In the book, they're more distant and don't really come into the picture until the end. So many things were changed and I found myself being really glad that the movie was so different. The fact that the movie and book were so dissimilar didn't effect my love for either at all.

I think one of the worst movie adaptations has got to be Percy Jackson and the Olympians. I think I feel it's awful because Percy Jackson is a series and they took events from later books and mashed them into one movie! I hated it! The entire time, I was thinking "Wait! That's not how things went!" For some reason, it really irked me that things were so different. Maybe it's because I read the series first and was so disappointed with the way they portrayed it. Like the people who made the movie did a disservice to the author.

I have a love-frustration relationship with the Harry Potter movies. I've thought each movie had it's merits, but have always been frustrated that they've left out elements that I thought were key when I was reading the book. I really have loved each movie (though I will say that Half-Blood Prince is my least favorite) and I have such a strong emotional connection to this series. I will still pick apart each film, though, and tell you exactly what I would have left in, and who cares that the movie would have been 4 hours long? It was important, dang it!

I'm looking forward to The Hunger Games so much! I think this movie adaptation will be great. I saw the trailer on the big screen when I went to see Breaking Dawn and almost peed my pants.

Last week on Surrounded By Words:

(Actually, it's two weeks)

2012 Reading Challenges Update!

Tune in Tuesday {20} Concert Edition featuring Tyrone Wells

25 Days of Jubilation + Giveaway

Tune in Tuesday {19} featuring Ben Rector

Review: The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson

In My Mailbox {6}

Tune in Tuesday {20} - Concert Edition!

2011-12-06T00:00:00.000-06:00

December is Concert Edition!

One of the best live shows I've been to has to be singer/songwriter Tyronne Wells. I saw him for the first time in 2009 when I was on The Rock Boat. (The Rock Boat is a 5 day cruise started by Sister Hazel 2001. Basically, it's 5 days of almost non-stop concerts, aka heaven.) I haven't been to a lot of live shows in my time and this was where I was first able to tell the difference between a band that's awesome live, and some that are only so-so. Tyronne Wells is awesome live.

I saw him for a second time in Mobile, AL a couple years ago. I actually had a chance to help at the merch table, which was really awesome. This man's voice is freaking awesome, and he always closes with the same song, "When All Is Said and Done", which will give you chills. I've found such inspiration and depth in his songs. Tyronne Wells is one of my all-time favorite singers, and I would LOVE to see him live again.

"More"

"Sea Breeze"

"When All is Said and Done" - This is a live version from one of his concerts and he talks a bit at the beginning. He starts singing at 46 seconds, if you want to skip the talking.

25 Days of Jubilation + GIVEAWAY

2011-12-02T00:00:00.000-06:00

Welcome to Day 2 of 25 Days of Jubilation! From now through Christmas, different blogs will feature special posts and giveaway for the holidays. 25 Days of Jubilation is hosted by Cyndi at Dog-Eared and Bookmarked, Jacinda at The Reading Housewives, and Yani at The Secret Life of an Avid Reader.

The Christmas season is one of my absolute favorites. To me, just screams comfort and family. The cold weather has me begging for hot chocolate and a fire in the fireplace. For my 25 Days of Jubilation post, I thought I’d share ten of my favorite things about the holidays. They aren’t in any particular order; there just happen to be ten.

1. Christmas Music - I refuse to listen to Christmas Music before Thanksgiving, because I like to save it. Christmas music is special music, and should be savored.

2. Decorating – Oh, how I love Christmas decorations. I feel like my living room gets ten times cozier when the tree is up and the lights are on. It’s the process of taking down the decorations that I’m not all that fond of.

3. Mr. Darcy – This is my dachshund and he’ll always be a holiday favorite of mine because I got him on Christmas Eve 2010 .

4. Reading by tree light – I love going into the living room at night, curling up in my comfy chair, and reading by the Christmas tree. There’s something so relaxing and comforting about Christmas lights.

5. Friends and Family – One of my favorite family traditions is getting together on Christmas Eve for dinner and presents. There aren’t that many of us, so it’s a nice, small gathering.

6. Cookies – I love to bake, but I rarely do it because we try not to keep too many cookies and sweet things in the house. I use Christmas parties as a perfect excuse to get my bake on.

7. Christmas Movies and TV Shows – Nothing says Christmas like Bing Crosby! My Mom and I watch old Christmas movies together every year. We’re also big fans of the super cheesy ones that show on Lifetime. I love all the Christmas shows, like Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer or Frosty the Snowman. When I was little, my parents recorded all my favorites on a VHS tape and I watched it year round!

8. Comfort Reading – I don’t just like to keep my body comfy and warm during the holidays; I like to keep my brain comfortable, too. I find myself re-reading old favorites around the holidays because they feel like coming home. I’m also a sucker for Christmas stories that are released by authors like Nora Roberts or Debbie Macomber. They’re quick reads, and generally leave me feeling warm and fuzzy.

9. Christmas Crafts – My Mom and I are pretty serious crafters. I, personally, knit, crochet, sew, and do cross-stitch. There are always tons of adorable kits to choose from at Christmas . For the last 2 years I made stockings, but I’ve been working on a special project lately. You’ll learn more about that shortly.

10. Food – There are certain foods that are only easy to find during the holidays. One brand in particular is Hickory Farms. Each year they set up their booth in the mall and we stock up on beef stick, cheese, dips, and many other delicious goodies. To me, all holiday foods are comfort foods.

What are some of your favorite things about the holidays? Tell me in the comments! I love comments!

Now for the GIVEAWAY! As I mentioned above, I like to re-read some of my favorite books during the holidays. I would also like to share some of these books with three of you! I’m giving away:

An Abundance of Katherines by John Green - When it comes to relationships, Colin Singleton’s type is girls named Katherine. And when it comes to girls named Katherine, Colin is always getting dumped. Nineteen times, to be exact.

On a road trip miles from home, this anagram-happy, washed-up child prodigy has ten thousand dollars in his pocket, a bloodthirsty feral hog on his trail, and an overweight, Judge Judy-loving best friend riding shotgun but no Katherines. Colin is on a mission to prove The Theorem of Underlying Katherine Predictability, which he hopes will predict the future of any relationship, avenge Dumpees everywhere, and finally win him the girl.

A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray - Sixteen-year-old Gemma has had an unconventional upbringing in India, until the day she foresees her mother's death in a black, swirling vision that turns out to be true. Sent back to England, she is enrolled at Spence, a girls' academy with a mysterious burned-out East Wing. There Gemma is snubbed by powerful Felicity, beautiful Pippa, and even her own dumpy roommate Ann, until she blackmails herself and Ann into the treacherous clique. Gemma is distressed to find that she has been followed from India by Kartik, a beautiful young man who warns her to fight off the visions. Nevertheless, they continue, and one night she is led by a child-spirit to find a diary that reveals the secrets of a mystical Order. The clique soon finds a way to accompany Gemma to the other-world realms of her visions "for a bit of fun" and to taste the power they will never have as Victorian wives, but they discover that the delights of the realms are overwhelmed by a menace they cannot control. Gemma is left with the knowledge that her role as the link between worlds leaves her with a mission to seek out the "others" and rebuild the Order. A Great and Terrible Beauty is an impressive first book in what should prove to be a fascinating trilogy.

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare - When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder - much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It's hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing - not even a smear of blood - to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy?
This is Clary's first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It's also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace's world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know.

Included with the book will be a set of Cookie Ornaments that I made! If you already have these books, you could always enter, give the book to someone else and keep the ornaments! ;)

You can enter the Giveaway HERE. I’ve been having trouble getting html to show up un my blog, so the link will take you to the form for the Giveaway. You do not have to be a follower to enter. Tweeting about the giveaway will earn you another entry, just make sure @AnneShirley06 is is mentioned in the tweet. Unfortunately, the contest is open only to US residents. You’ll be able to select a book preference or just enter for any of them. The contest will close at midnight, December 31, 2011.

Make sure you visit all the participating blogs to enter their giveaways and the grand prize at Cyndi, Jacinda, or Yani’s blog. Meredith at Mint Tea and a Good Book will be posting tomorrow. Christen at Goldilox and the Three Weres posted yesterday.

Tune in Tuesday {19}

2011-11-29T00:00:00.000-06:00

Tune in Tuesday is one of my favorite features! It's hosted by Ginger at GReads! and helps bring attention to new and/or old songs or artists. Music makes my little world go round, and I love sharing what I like and finding new music through this feature.

This week, I'm featuring singer/songwriter Ben Rector, who is one of my absolute favorites. His voice is so smooth and wonderful. He writes incredible lyrics, too. There's a Ben Rector song for every mood. He's one of those artists who affect me on so many levels that it's difficult for me to put into words exactly what I love about his music. I just fangirl all over the place. Ben Rector's music can have me bouncing around like a fool, or completely bowled over with emotion. I had a hard time narrowing down my selection of songs, so I hope you enjoy the ones I picked!

"Moving Backwards"

"Dance With Me Baby"

"When A Heart Breaks"

"Hank"

The Name of the Star (Shades of London #1) by Maureen Johnson

2011-11-28T00:00:00.000-06:00

Publisher: Putnam Juvenile
Publication Date: 09/29/11
Genre: Young Adult Paranormal Mystery
Source: Personal Library

The day Louisiana teenager Rory Deveaux arrives in London marks a memorable occasion. For Rory, it's the start of a new life at a London boarding school. But for many, this will be remembered as the day a series of brutal murders broke out across the city, gruesome crimes mimicking the horrific Jack the Ripper events of more than a century ago.

Soon "Rippermania" takes hold of modern-day London, and the police are left with few leads and no witnesses. Except one. Rory spotted the man police believe to be the prime suspect. But she is the only one who saw him. Even her rooommate, who was walking with her at the time, didn't notice the mysterious man. So why can only Rory see him? And more urgently, why has Rory become his next target? In this edge-of-your-seat thriller, full of suspense, humor, and romance, Rory will learn the truth about the secret ghost police of London and discover her own shocking abilities. (Summary from Goodreads.com)

I've always loved the intrigue around the Jack the Ripper case. I read Patricia Cornwell's book, Portrait of a Killer, and I watch all the specials that come on the History Channel. Maureen Johnson brings a lovely twist to what might be one of the most well-known unsolved cases in history.

Rory starts out as your average American teenager. Her parents are both college professors who accept year-long teaching positions in England. Rory chooses to attend a boarding school in London. All is going well. Rory's making new friends and settling in nicely, and then she chokes in the cafeteria and sees the bright light. This incident has more of an impact on Rory than you might think. As "Rippermania" goes into full swing, Rory sees the murderer at one of the crime scenes. Not even the CCTVs (closed caption television cameras installed around the city) can catch the murderer in action. Because of this, everyone is more than a little skeptical of her sighting, except for a select few.

I love Maureen Johnson's writing. She can inject humor into any and every situation. You can find it in a character's quirks or observations on their surroundings. Even with murders happening left and right, there's a lighthearted thread that weaves through the entire novel. Johnson also has the ability to provide a lot of information without making you feel overwhelmed. She describes settings in beautiful detail and did meticulous research into the Ripper case. As one of her Twitter followers (a.k.a. one of her jars), I've seen her live tweet the Ripper tour in London more than once. Her descriptions of the scenes in London made me seriously miss this city.

Rory isn't really a kickin' ass and takin' names kind of protagonist. She's really something of an oddball. Her family is all sorts of backwoods crazy. The descriptions and stories about Rory's extended family were some of my favorite parts. As a Southerner, I will say that they were a little stereotypical Swamp People and I'm not sure how they really reflected the actual population of Louisiana. This did not make me enjoy them any less.

I think the book could have used a little more romance. There is some, but it's somewhat lacking in description and I missed that. I wanted to know more about the butterflies in Rory's stomach when she was kissing Jerome. Their first kiss is basically "so that happened" and I was more than a little disappointed because I like to share in the butterflies! It would have been nice to see the relationship grow a little more. That being said, there are two more books, so why give it all up in the first one. Patience is a virtue that I clearly do not have. I just felt like there was so much attention to the development of Rory's "abilities" and events surrounding them that we lost out on the romance. I like the kissy parts, what can i say.

While this was not my favorite Maureen Johnson book (that spot still belongs to The Bermudez Triangle) it was a great read. I plowed through it in one afternoon and enjoyed every minute. I'm looking forward to more character development in the next couple of books. I think the arc of the trilogy has a lot of potential. I was really satisfied with the first book, but I'm looking forward the next one where we won't have all the explanation. We can just dive right into the story.

For more about Maureen Johnson, check out her website.
She also has a Tumblr.
You should be reading her blog. It's hilarious.

In My Mailbox {6}

2011-11-27T00:02:00.001-06:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly feature hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren to showcase books that we've received or bought in the last week.

For Review:

Existence by Abbi Glines - I've been so lucky this year to have been given the opportunity to review each of Abbi's books. I've loved each one and this one did not disappoint! Review to come! (I read it immediately!)

Purchased:

Where Things Come Back by John Corey Whaley
Crossed by Ally Condie

I'm so incredibly excited about reading both of these books. I need to finish my current read, but then I am all over these!

I'm a sucker for Christmas stories. I love the books that are released each year from authors like Debbie Macomber. They always put me in the holiday spirit, so I had to pick up a couple!

Trading Christmas by Debbie Macomber
The Bite Before Christmas - Lynsay Sands and Jeaniene Frost - I may have to wait to read Jeaniene Frost's story because it takes place in the Night Huntress world and I haven't read any of the others. Marcy will shame me.

What books did you get this week?

The Vincent Boys Giveaway Winner!

2011-11-26T16:13:00.001-06:00

Congratulations to

Margaret

for winning the Kindle Edition of The Vincent Boys by Abbi Glines!!

Being the good girl isn't all it's cracked up to be. Ashton Gray has grown weary of playing the part to please her parents, and to be worthy of the town's prince charming, Sawyer Vincent. Maybe that's why she's found herself spending time with Sawyers cousin, Beau, while he's away for the summer camping with his family. Beau is nothing like her perfect boyfriend. He's the sexiest guy she's every seen, dangerous in ways she's only day dreamed about, and the one guy she should stay away from.

Beau never envied Sawyer his loving parents, his big nice home, or his position as quarterback. He loves him like a brother. Which is why he's tried everything in his power to keep his distance from Sawyer's girlfriend. Even if he has loved her since the age of five, Ashton is Sawyer's girl, so therefore she's off limits. But when Sawyer leaves for the summer, Ashton, the one girl Beau would move Heaven and Earth for, decides she wants to get into trouble. Stabbing the one person who's always accepted him and stood by him in the back is the cost of finally holding Ashton Gray in his arms. Is she worth losing his cousin over?...Hell Yeah! (Summary from goodreads.com)

If you haven't checked out The Vincent Boys yet, you definitely should!

For more about Abbi Glines, check out her website.

See my review of The Vincent Boys here.

See my character This or That with Ashton here.

TGIF at GReads! {24}

2011-11-25T02:28:00.001-06:00

When You're Not Reading: What occupies your time when your nose isn't stuck in a book?

I really lead something of a small life. My non-reading time is split between work and friends/family time.

I work part-time for a nurse case management firm that happens to be owned by one of my Mom's best friends! I work in the administrative side of case management since I'm not a nurse. I'm incredibly lucky to have this job, and love what I do. Working can get complicated because of my Crohn's Disease (an autoimmune disease that basically causes your body to attack the cells in your intestines). I don't have as much energy as my co-workers and don't often know how I'll be feeling from one day to the next. I work with fantastic people who make it possible for me to have a very flexible schedule, come in when I can, and who cover for me when I can't. I've been doing really well lately and have been able to work pretty steadily for the last several months. It keeps me busy, which is how I prefer things. Hopefully next year I'll be going back to school, which will keep me even busier!

Rock chalk Jayhawk!

From November through March, I have a one track mind: basketball. I am a Kansas Jayhawk fan and one of my favorite things to do is watch the games with my Dad. It's something we've done together since I was little. Since we live in Florida, their games aren't on TV that much. But whenever they are, you can find us in front of the TV decked out in KU gear!

My friend, Alannah, and I in NYC last month

Spending time with friends and family is important to me. Sadly, so many of my close friends live far away! I try to get in as much time with the ones who live close by, whether that going to movies, or dinner, or just chilling at someone's house. I'm really active in my church, Community of Christ, and with our Young Adult group. I like to spend time with that group outside of church whenever I can, but busy schedules make that hard sometimes.When I'm hanging out at the house with my family, it's almost a guarantee that I have a pair of knitting needles in my hands. I love doing crafty things, and knitting and crochet are my favorites.

I love to travel and definitely don't get to do as much of it as I would like. This year was an awesome year for traveling, though! I went to LeakyCon, the Harry Potter conference (yup, I'm that big of a nerd) in Orlando this past July. It was definitely one of the best week's of my year. Possibly my life. I had so much fun and it's killing me that I can't go next year! I also went to New York City with one of my close friends last month. That was a fantastic trip. I have a couple trips already lined up for next year, too! It looks like I'll be going back to Orlando with my family in January or February, and then in June I'm going to California for VidCon! And yes, I realize that 50% of these trips are for super nerdy things. I likes it. :)

This week at Surrounded By Words:

In My Mailbox {5}

Review: Forget You by Jennifer Echols

Tune in Tuesday {18} featuring Matt Nathanson

Review: Wisdom's Kiss by Catherine Gilbert Murdock

Wisdom's Kiss by Catherine Gilbert Murdock

2011-11-23T00:00:00.000-06:00

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children
Publication Date: 09/12/11
Genre: Young Adult / Fantasy
Source: Receiver from publisher via NetGalley.com

Princess Wisdom, known as Dizzy, longs for a life of adventure far beyond the staid old kingdom of Montagne.

Tips, a soldier, longs to keep his true life secret from his family.

Fortitude, an orphaned maid, longs only for Tips.

These three passionate souls might just attain their dreams while preserving Montagne from certain destruction, if only they can tolerate each other long enough to come up with a plan. Tough to save the world when you can't even be in the same room together. (Summary from goodreads.com)

I love a good fairy tale. I don't really care what form it comes in. It can be a Grimm's tale, a re-telling, or completely original from the author's brain. Fairy tales have something special that other books lack. I don't know if it's the sense of whimsy, or the way the story is told. All I know is that I love it.

Tips and Fortitude (Trudy) grew up together and it was always assumed that they would one day marry. Sadly, they are separated at a young age when Tips leaves to be trained as a "soldier". Trudy waits for him vigilantly, until she's asked to stand in as a lady-in-waiting for Princess Dizzy and her grandmother, Ben. Dizzy and Ben are traveling to Dizzy's wedding, where the king and his soldiers will also be. Trudy accepts the offer because if the king is there, then Tips will be there as well! Alas, upon arriving, Tips and Dizzy fall madly in love, throwing Trudy for the ultimate loop. Shenanigans ensue as everyone attempts to get the happy ending they've been dreaming of.

Wisdom's Kiss is told from multiple perspective's and in several different forms: diary entries, a play, encyclopedia entries, and letters. This was a particularly creative way for the author to bring you all facets of the story. The play was hilariously written and was wonderfully melodramatic, very much like Dizzy. I think it was my favorite perspective.

I love Trudy. When you begin reading, it seems as though the main character is going to be Dizzy. However, Trudy emerges as the heroine of the story, which was good because I can't stand Dizzy. She's spoiled and completely self-centered and self-seeking. The sections told from her perspective were vapid, although she did redeem herself a little at the end. Trudy is very sweet and fragile. Her story is one of self discovery as she comes to terms with Tips' change in affections and learns about her past and destiny.

This was such a lovely read, and an adorable story. I would like to read more by Catherine Gilbert Murdock because I really enjoyed her writing style. The story is very smart, which was awesome. The author isn't afraid of scaring kids off by using bigger words and even provides a glossary at the end of the book. She earned some serious brownie points in my book for that one. I was so happy when I finished reading the book. It isn't your typical "and they marry and live happily ever after" ending. It was nice to see a message that doesn't tell young girls they must have a man to be successful and happy. Trudy is blissfully happy and successful on her own terms.

For more about Catherine Gilbert Murdock and her writing, check out her website.

Tune In Tuesday {18}

2011-11-22T00:00:00.000-06:00

This week I'm featuring one of my favorites guitar playing guys: Matt Nathanson. You have no idea how hard it was for me to pick which songs to feature on here. I didn't want to overwhelm y'all too much.

I'll start with the first Matt Nathanson song I heard. Cassandra Clare put it on her playlist for City of Glass and I was immediately hooked. Not only is this one of the sexiest songs ever, it will now always make me think of Jace and Clary. Fitting, don't you think?

"Come On Get Higher"

This next song is off Matt Nathanson's new album, Modern Love. I've been bopping around to this song for the last two weeks. Not even kidding. I've found myself singing it at the most random times, too. I find it impossible to be sad while listening to this song. (I'm not positive I'm wild about the facial hair he's sporting in this video. It conjures images of evil musketeers.)

"Faster"

Ginger and I had a mini love-fest on Twitter about this song yesterday. It was already one of the songs I was thinking about featuring today, but that solidified my decision. This is a song that can break your heart in the best way possible. It's one of my absolute favorite Matt Nathanson songs.

"Bulletproof Weeks"

Forget You by Jennifer Echols

2011-11-21T00:00:00.000-06:00

Publisher: MTV
Publication Date: 07/20/10
Genre: Contemporary Young Adult
Source: Personal Library

Why can't you choose what you forget...and what you remember?

There's a lot Zoey would like to forget. Like how her father has knocked up his twenty-four-year old girlfriend. Like Zoey's fear that the whole town will find out about her mom's nervous breakdown. Like darkly handsome bad boy Doug taunting her at school. Feeling like her life is about to become a complete mess, Zoey fights back the only way she knows how, using her famous attention to detail to make sure she's the perfect daughter, the perfect student, and the perfect girlfriend to ultra-popular football player Brandon.

But then Zoey is in a car crash, and the next day there's one thing she can't remember at all - the entire night before. Did she go parking with Brandon, like she planned? And if so, why does it seem like Brandon is avoiding her? And why is Doug - of all people - suddenly acting as if something significant happened between the two of them?

Zoey dimly remembers Doug pulling her from the wreck, but he keeps referring to what happened that night as if it was more, and it terrifies Zoey to admit how much is a blank to her.

Controlled, meticulous Zoey is quickly losing her grip on the all-important details of her life - a life that seems strangely empty of Brandon, and strangely full of Doug. (Summary from Goodreads.com)

This is hands down my favorite Jennifer Echols book. Granted, I haven't read them all yet, but I feel like this one will remain my favorite.

Zoey's world is rapidly crumbling. Her parents divorce followed by her mother's suicide attempt are almost more than she can take. Top that with a father who's more concerned about how that will affect his image than his daughter's well-being and it's a wonder Zoey hasn't had a nervous breakdown herself. For comfort she turns to Brandon, who has become one of her best friends, and they begin "dating". One Friday, she goes to a football game with the swim team and is confronted by Doug - and that's the last thing she remembers. The next morning, she wakes up find Doug waiting for her in her living room and being very affectionate. The last memory Zoey has is of Doug calling her a spoiled brat. Why is he acting like they're together?

I didn't like Brandon from the start. He's a complete player and nowhere near good enough for Zoey on his best day. Plus, he's an idiot. I didn't really care for Zoey's father, either. What an egotistical asshat! He does absolutely nothing to support Zoey, even after her accident. I couldn't stand the man. Thankfully, he doesn't make too many personal appearances.

I'm madly, passionately in love with Doug. He's vulnerable when you least expect it, and has much more in common with Zoey than she ever thought. He's so supportive of Zoey without being overbearing. Oh man, Doug is just plain wonderful. I loved the relationship that developed between Doug and Zoey. When she wasn't endlessly repeating "I'm with Brandon" over and over, that is. I wanted to slap Zoey silly half the time for not seeing what a jerk Brandon was being. She sees how wonderful Doug is, but is so stuck on what she thinks is happening with Brandon that she doesn't feel like she can give him a chance.

One thing that mildly confused me about Zoey is how sometimes she's so aware and adamant about not wanting to be controlled by a guy, but other times she's completely willing to be yanked around (mainly by Brandon). I found it refreshing that when it came to Doug, Zoey was very conscious about boundaries. I get tired of the wilting female character who bends to the male's every wish and command. ( I like Twilight, but Bella Swan. Come on, you know it's true.) I will confess, there were a couple times I wanted to tell Zoey to relax and just let Doug be a nice guy. Otherwise, I liked that part of her character.

I will say I don't think this book is one for younger YA readers. Zoey is a young woman coming into her sexuality and learning that it's okay to have sexual feelings. I think it's great that Jennifer Echols addressed this, and she approached it very tastefully. It's just that it's a topic that is appropriate for some ages and not for others.

This has definitely become one of my all time favorite books, and Jennifer Echols one of my favorite authors. This book had me absolutely giddy at times and I loved connecting to these characters.

For more about Jennifer Echols and her books, check out her website.

In My Mailbox {5}

2011-11-20T00:00:00.000-06:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly feature hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren to showcase the books we've received or bought in the last week.

Last week on Twitter, I was praising Jennifer Echols and stated that I wanted to purchase and read everything she had written. So I did.

Endless Summer: The Boys Next Door & Endless Summer
Major Crush
The Ex Games

I also pre-ordered The One That I Want

A friend recommended the Milrose Munce books to me, so I grabbed those too. They were $.99 on my Nook!

Milrose Munce and the Den of Professional Help by Douglas Anthony Cooper
Milrose Munce and the Plague of Toxic Fungus by Douglas Anthony Cooper

For review:

The Secret of Lies by Barbara Forte Abate

What books did you get this week?

TGIF at GReads! {22}

2011-11-18T00:24:00.001-06:00

Before I get to this week's question, I would like to draw everyone's attention to the lovely header and button that have appeared on my blog. They were designed by Ginger and I happen to think she did a fabulous job! I feel like the header pulls everything together. Funny how the little things make such a big difference. Thanks again, Ginger!

This week's question:

Giving Thanks: Which books are you most thankful for receiving from other bloggers, friends, family members, or publishers?

I haven't received a whole ton of books this year, actually. But the ones I have received I've really loved and am so thankful for!

A few months ago, I signed up to be part of the blog tour for Breathe by Abbi Glines. When she found out her second book, The Vincent Boys, was being released earlier than anticipated, she picked bloggers to send advance copies to for review. I was so happy when she asked if I would be interested in an advance copy. Not only do I love her books, but she seems to like what I have to say about them! I'm looking forward to reading more from her in the future and can't wait to add the physical copies to my shelf when they're released.

In September, I received Divergent by Veronica Roth from Kate at Musings of a Book Lover for R.A.K. I'm not going to lie, I squealed when I read the email from her. She didn't mention what the title was and I didn't ask. It was a complete surprise, and I was extremely happy to have received it! I loved this book so much and am so looking forward to the Insurgent.

I'm extremely thankful to my parents for fostering my reading habits from a very young age. They always encouraged me and bought copious amounts of books for me growing up. One that really helped expand my little horizon was Jurassic Park. I was the only 10 year old in my class madly in love with Michael Crichton. And if they hadn't purchased almost every book in The Babysitters Club series for me, I might not be blogging today. [Addendum: I'm pretty sure my parents screened Jurassic Park before giving it to their 10 year old. I also think they were absolutely desperate for something that would take me longer than a day to read. The book fell apart before I reached high school, BTW.]

I've had several friends who have ~~forced~~ recommended books to me that have had huge impacts on my life. The Harry Potter series, Twilight, Cassandra Clare's Mortal Instruments series. These are just a few of the books that have opened my eyes to new genres and led to countless other books.

I'm also very thankful for my fellow bloggers who write about the books they love and help my TBR list expand daily!

This week on Surrounded By Words:

2012 Debut Author Challenge

Review: Going Too Far by Jennife Echols

Tune in Tuesday {17} - Featuring Blake Stratton

The Vincent Boys Blog Tour - Character This or That with Ashton + GIVEAWAY

Just Contemporary: A Love/Hate Relationship

2011-11-16T01:45:00.001-06:00

Contemporary YA novels and I have had something of a tumultuous relationship. When I'm on a Contemps kick, I won't talk or think about anything else. The angst! The heartfail! The joy! The Boone's Farm Strawberry Hill! But when life is kicking my butt, the last thing I want is realistic. I don't want to read about someone's struggle and turmoil, or even about their happy relationship. This happens to me quite frequently.

And then I spy a cover that intrigues me. I pick up the book, peek at the description. Boarding school...British hottie...author has blue hair. Maybe later. But the book won't leave me alone! I start thinking about when I stare at my bookshelves, trying to decide if it's vampires or witches I want to read about. No! Neither! I want the British hottie at the boarding school! So I return to the bookstore and buy said book. Two hours later I'm completely immersed and giddy with happiness.

This feeling will carry me for awhile and I'll bury myself in other Contemporary novels, until I inevitably start wanting that release from reality again. It happens over and over, and I'll go for weeks reading about everything but real life. Eventually, I will drift back to Contemps and fall head over heels once again. It doesn't matter if the book turns me into a puddle of emotional goo or makes me laugh until I cry. Contemps have so much power and I hold them dear to my heart. I just need to be reminded of that every now and then.

Here are some of my favorite Contemporary YA novels:

Looking for Alaska by John Green - I read this while I was riding the Twilight high. I didn't really expect to love it as much as I did. John Green's writing is like nothing else out there. He has this amazing ability to tackle awkward and/or tough topics with grace and even humor. Now that I'm thinking about it, I seriously need to re-read this book!

The Bermudez Triangle by Maureen Johnson - This book caught my attention because of the banning controversy in Oklahoma. The book is about three best friends and the changes that happen in the friendship when two of them start dating. It just so happens that all three are girls. It's one of those books that I think every teenage girl should read at some point. If we aren't telling teens it's okay to question, then someone has to!

Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma - This is one of those books that turned me in to a goo puddle. It deals with incest, but not in an "Ew, gross" way. The story is beautiful and gut-wrenching, and I will always be happy that I read it. This is definitely one for the older teens, though. Tabitha Suzuma is not afraid to tackle subjects like depression, mental illness, sex, alcoholism, and suicide. I will always view this as a sign of ultimate bravery.

Forget You by Jennifer Echols - *unintelligible gushing* Jennifer Echols is a new discovery for me, even though I've seen bloggers raving about her for quite some time. (Can you call that a discovery? How about "recent realization of her brilliance".) I'm completely in love! The stories are engaging and just plain wonderful to read. I love the characters even when I hate them. They're well developed and have so much depth. I'm reading my fourth book by her, but Forget You is by far my favorite. I just finished it last week and I'm already wanting to re-read! Doug = LOVE!

Let It Snow: Three Holiday Romances by John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle - I'm including this book because it's just a great holiday read. While I've yet to read anything else by Lauren Myracle, I loved her story and feel like she will be an author I'll enjoy reading. The stories in this book are light-hearted, funny, and just plain delightful.

So, what Contemps do I need to be sure to add to my TBR list? Leave recs in the comments!

The Vincent Boys Blog Tour - Character This or That with Ashton + GIVEAWAY

2011-11-16T01:16:00.001-06:00

Welcome to Day 3 of the blog tour for The Vincent Boys by Abbi Glines, hosted by A Tale of Many Reviews!

You can see my review of The Vincent Boys here.

I'm excited to bring you guys a This or That character interview with Ashton today!

Peanut butter: creamy or crunchy?

Creamy.

Chocolate or vanilla?

Chocolate… I'm a female.

Prada or Target?

Target. I'm a preacher's daughter from the south. I've never even seen anything Prada.

Pink or black?

Pink, definitely.

Dog or Cat?

Dog… better yet puppy.

Roll Tide or War Eagle?

Roll Tide.

Midnight or Noon?

Midnight. I have a lot of good memories that revolve around midnight.

Oreos: Double Stuff or Regular?

Double Stuff. I love the cream.

Coffee or Tea?

Sweet Iced Tea.

Harry Potter or Twilight?

Harry Potter. I'm Ravenclaw by the way.

Being at a party or being alone?

Party. I'm not good alone.

Ability to be invisible or ability to fly?

Fly. I think being invisible could get you into more trouble than its worth. Something you just don't want to see.

For more about The Vincent Boys and Abbi's other books, check out her website.

Giveaway time!!

I'm giving away a Kindle edition of The Vincent Boys, which will be gifted through Amazon.com! To enter, simply comment on this post. Please leave an email or Twitter handle so that I can contact you if you win! My giveaway will end at midnight on 11/20!

Make sure you comment to be entered for the Grand Prize: a signed tote bag, $20 Barnes and Noble Gift Card, and Kindle edition of the book! Comment on each blog to be entered! The Grand Prize winner will be announced on 11/22!

*shuffles feet and coughs*

There should be a nice linky here with all the participating blogs. However, my blog is being particularly grumpy right now and the linky won't work. I'm sure if you visit one of the other blogs posting today on the tour, their linky will have worked fine. :) So please head over to Book Briefs for a review and Good Choice Reading for an author interview with Abbi! Here's hoping they had better luck with the linky than I did.

You can also visit A Tale of Many Reviews to see the list of blogs participating in the blog tour.

Tune in Tuesday {17}

2011-11-15T00:00:00.000-06:00

The credit for finding this week's artist once again goes to my friend, Marcy (Twitter: @marcyj). She changed my life yet again by directing me to Blake Stratton. His voice is a-mah-zing and his song lyrics are awesome. This was the first song of Blake's that I listened to and I just stared at my computer and listened to it a million and a half times at least! Then I checked out his Tumblr and found even more reasons to love.

The song is a cover of "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" by The Proclaimers. I've loved this song since I first heard it in the movie Benny and Joon (one of my absolute favorites). If you aren't familiar with the song, you can watch the video here. (I thought about including it, but I really didn't want to take away from this version!) If you are familiar, you know it's an upbeat song that induces dancing around like a complete fool and other such crazy actions. Blake Stratton's cover induces lying on the floor in a comatose state because you are absolutely overcome. I had NO IDEA this song had the potential to sound like this.

I now invite you to melt.

"I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" Cover by Blake Stratton

Going Too Far by Jennifer Echols

2011-11-14T00:00:00.000-06:00

Publisher: Pocket Books / MTV Books
Publication Date: 03/17/09
Genre: Contemporary Young Adult
Source: Personal Library

All Meg has ever wanted is to get away. Away from high school. Away from her backwater town. Away from her parents who seem determined to keep her imprisoned in their dead-end lives. But, one crazy evening involving a dare and forbidden railroad tracks, she goes way too far...and almost doesn't make it back.

John made the choice to stay. To enforce the rules. To serve and protect. He has nothing but contempt for what he sees as childish rebellion, and he wants to teach Meg a lesson she won't soon forget. But Meg pushed him to the limit by questioning everything he learned at the police academy. And when he pushes back, demanding to know why she won't be tied down, they will drive each other to the edge - and over... (Summary from Goodreads.com)

I've seen bloggers rave about Jennifer Echols for awhile now. I had looked at the books, even flirted with the idea of buying one. Then I downloaded Love Story from Simon and Schuster Galley Grab. I really liked it. Loved it, even. But for some reason, I didn't read anything else by Jennifer Echols.

Upon finishing Going Too Far, I purchased everything Jennifer Echols had written and have pre-ordered her next book on my Nook. I loved it THAT MUCH.

On the surface, Meg is your typical rebellious teenager: blue hair, drinks alcohol, dates the bad boys. John seems like your typical hard-nosed, no nonsense cop. But there's oh so much more underneath for each of these characters. Both of them are bruised and battered, and need someone to point them in a different direction. This would be a little easier if they weren't so dang stubborn! Before the end, Meg and John (or Officer After, as I will always think of him) do quite a number on each other. It's amazing how much power is in our words and actions!

I love the relationship that develops between John and Meg. It's definitely not what either of them expected or necessarily wanted, but absolutely what each of them needed. John and Meg come to pretty big realizations about how they are living their lives. Perhaps having an impenetrable shell around your heart isn't the best way to get through life.

I'm trying to think of something I didn't like. I wasn't exactly fond of Meg's Dad, even though as a father, he'd been through a helluva lot. Maybe Meg had just pushed him too far and he was over it all. Regardless, he irked me. He's pretty much the only thing I didn't like in the book. I loved the writing and character development. I really enjoy watching big changes come about in characters, and this was a perfect book for that. It was nice to read about things that feel so real life. It's definitely started me on a Contemp kick! I said on Twitter that I was going to read everything Jennifer Echols had written before I moved on, and I wasn't kidding! Expect the review for Forget You, which is my fav so far, to be up this week, and I'm starting Endless Summer tomorrow.

I have a new favorite author!!

For more about Jennifer Echols and her books, check out her website.

2012 Debut Author Challenge

2011-11-12T00:00:00.000-06:00

This past year I didn't really participate in many challenges. I signed up for some, but wasn't necessarily very successful. So next year, I'm going to do just one: The Debut Author Challenge! I'm very excited about participating and am looking forward to reading some great books!

This is the post I'll be updating with my reading selection. My goal is to read a total of 18 debut books in 2012. If I read more, great! I'll add those here as well.

My DAC Reading List:

If you'd like to participate in the 2012 Debut Author Challenge, sign-up at The Story Siren.

TGIF at GReads {21}

2011-11-11T00:00:00.000-06:00

Love-Hate Relationship: Which characters from a book do you love to hate?

Dizzy from Wisdom's Kiss by Catherine Gilbert Murdock - This is a book I read recently but just haven't posted the review for. Dizzy (real name Wisdom) is one of the main characters, but not necessarily the primary MC, if that makes sense. I thought she was completely ridiculous and hated her from the start. As the story went on, I started to get serious in my hate, especially for the sake of the another character. I was actually hoping she would fall to an untimely death at one point, but no. She remained. Let me just say this girl did NOT live up to the meaning of her name. I'm not sure she's meant to be the character you sympathize with the most, but I'm also not sure you're meant to loathe her as much as I did.

Rosalie from The Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyer - I will always hate Rosalie. She's just not likable for me. I recently re-read Twilight and thought I might appreciate her character more having read the entire series and knowing her full story. Nope. Not a bit. She's as selfish and arrogant as I always thought she was. I just plain can't stand her.

Weekly Re-Cap!

In My Mailbox {4}

A Discovery of Witches (All Souls Trilogy #1) by Deborah Harkness

Tune In Tuesday {16} - Joe Brooks

I've set a goal for myself: between now and the end of the year, I will have a blog post up at least 6 of the 7 days each week. Preferably all 7 days. And next year, I will be an absolute goddess when it comes to my blog. For now, we'll stick to this goal. Since I put it here and announced it on Twitter, I'll feel like I have some sort of accountability.

Hope you all have a fabulous weekend!

Tune In Tuesday {16}

2011-11-08T00:31:00.001-06:00

I'm so excited about this week's post! My friend, Marcy, suggested I check out singer/songwriter Joe Brooks for good writing music. Little did I know that once I started listening to him, I wouldn't be able to stop! I absolutely love his voice, and his lyrics are amazing. Some songs are instantly uplifting and others break your heart, but in the best way! I just started listening to him a couple night ago, but Joe Brooks is already on the list of my favorite singers, right up there with Tyrone Wells, A Fine Frenzy, Joshua Radin, and Ben Rector. His sound is perfect to chill out to and excellent reading music. We'll see if he's a good writing muse as well. :)

I couldn't decide on one song to post, so here are a few of my favorites so far.

"Holes Inside"

"Someday (OK)"

"Marching Band"

A Discovery of Witches (All Souls Trilogy #1) by Deborah Harkness

2011-11-07T01:40:00.000-06:00

Publisher: Viking Adult

Publication Date: 02/08/11

Genre: Supernatural / Urban Fantasy with a Historical Fiction aspect

Source: Personal Library

A richly inventive novel about a centuries-old vampire, a spellbound witch, and the mysterious manuscript that draws them together.

Deep in the stacks of Oxford's Bodleian Library, young scholar Diana Bishop unwittingly calls up a bewitched alchemical manuscript in the course of her research. Descended from an old and distinguished line of witches, Diana wants nothing to do with sorcery; so after a furtive glance and a few notes, she banishes the book to the stacks. But her discovery sets a fantastical underworld stirring, and a horde of daemons, witches, and vampires soon descends upon the library. Diana has stumbled upon a coveted treasure lost for centuries - and she is the only creature who can break its spell. (Summary from BarnesandNoble.com)

First, I have to warn you that I absolutely loved everything about this book and thus, this will be a gushy post.

Diana Bishop has always known she was a witch. She's the daughter of a very powerful witch and wizard, but her powers seem to be slightly...lacking. Both parents were killed when she was young, and as a result, she has chosen to ignore her power. For the most part. When she requests a rare manuscript (Ashmole 782), one that until that moment was listed as 'lost', Diana calls upon her power to open the book and attracts the attention of every paranormal creature in the area and beyond. She also attracts the attention of scientist (and vampire), Matthew Clairmont, when she uses her powers to retrieve a book from a high shelf. (Diana also keeps track of how many times she's used her powers that year. Just so she doesn't over do it.) Little does she know that Matthew has as much interest in the manuscript as she does.

Diana loathes the kind of attention she's getting, especially from Matthew. But as she gets to know him, she realizes the potential within herself, and in the Ashmole document that is once again listed as 'lost'. Matthew takes it upon himself to protect Diana from the witches and vampires gathering to monitor her every move. Together, they work to figure out how to recall Ashmole 782, and something beyond scholarly collaboration begins to develop.

Ok, so what do I love about this book? Let's make a list!

This book is so jam-packed with information it completely blew my mind! Deborah Harkness did an amazing job of researching for this book, and presents the information in a way that doesn't completely overwhelm you. At no point did I feel I was having too much info pushed on me. I was able to absorb and process it all, and draw connections between things before she brought it up. Total geek fest. I don't know how she did it, but she did.
I have wide and varied interests. I love art, history, science, physics, literature. As a result, I'm 28 and have yet to pin down what I want to be "when I grow up". A Discovery of Witches fulfilled almost all of these interests. Diana is a historian with a concentration in Alchemy (there's so much more to this than I thought there would be). Matthew is...well, he's a little bit of everything. But currently, he's a geneticist. Reading about Diana examining illustrations in these amazing manuscripts made me wish I had been able to go to grad school for Art History and could spend my time doing similar research.
Diana and Matthew's relationship. I love the war of wills that takes place between these two. Diana is extremely independent and isn't going to take crap from anyone. She's not content to sit back and let someone else have control of her life, which is what Matthew expects to happen. While their relationship develops over a short period of time, it's didn't feel like an insta-love situation. I've talked more about other aspects of the story here, but trust me, Diana and Matthew's relationship is a HUGE part of what I love about this book! He has this old fashioned attitude that totally clashes with Diana's independence, and yet it works.
The paranormal side of the story was awesome. I love witches, and really like the way Deborah Harkness presents them. The world of vampires, witches, and daemons that she creates has rules and consequences, some of which are extremely severe. Diana and Matthew's decisions about their relationship don't come easily or lightly. I'm interested to see how this side of the story plays out.
The supporting characters in the book are awesome, especially the Bishop House. There's some allusion to roles they will play in the future, and I'm really looking forward to seeing that play out.

The one thing that ate at me was the obsessive, controlling aspect of Matthew's personality. From what I've read, this is a general vampire characteristic. Although, if you know of a vamp book where they aren't like that, let me know in comments! It adds fire to the relationship, but there are times when you just want to tell him to give it a rest, Diana's a big girl. I will admit, I'm getting a little tired of the overbearing vampire business. It didn't really keep me from falling for Matthew, though. I love him.

There's a lot of setting up for the rest of the series, so a lot happens in a pretty short amount of time. I personally didn't feel like connection to Diana was sacrificed. Maybe in some ways, but overall, I felt a strong connection to Diana and really, really like her character. She's not a "kicking ass and taking names" kind of character, but she does have a mind and will of her own. She was relatable and real.

This is a pretty long post, but I'm going to stop here. If I don't, I'll go on and on. I really hope I've done this books justice. Since I read it, I've been in a total "but it's not Witches" slump. It's starting to pass, but this book left a huge impression on me and influenced my decision to do NaNoWriMo. It's been a very long time since a book affected me like A Discovery of Witches did. I love the power that books hold. It amazes me every time.

For more on Deborah Harkness and the All Souls Trilogy, check out her website.

In My Mailbox {4}

2011-11-06T01:27:00.000-05:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly feature hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren.

So, last weekend I took a vacation to New York City and visited Heaven. What I mean to say is I went to Strand, which is this totally amazing bookstore that has pretty much anything you could ever want. New, used, rare, everything. I was completely overwhelmed and could have spent the entire trip there and every dollar to my name. Thankfully, I used restraint, but did come away with some gems:

Like my bedspread? ;)

Books Pictured:

Practical Magic and The Red Garden, both by Alice Hoffman - LOVE Alice Hoffman.

The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J. K. Rowling (UK Edition) - No Harry Potter collection is complete without it.

Fantasy Lover by Sherilyn Kenyon - Read my first Sherilyn Kenyon books a couple months ago and loved it! I'm pretty excited to read more from her.

Scott Pilgrim's Precious Little Life by Bryan Lee O'Malley - Ok, so this book actually came from Forbidden Planet, which is a nerd's paradise.

Where There's a Witch by Madelyn Alt - Pretty sure this is smack in the middle of a series, but it looks really adorable. I may have to get the books that come before it before I'll let myself read it. I'm anal like that.

Born of Fire by Sherilyn Kenyon - The sequel to the first Sherilyn Kenyon book I read. My friend, Heather, and I call this series our "brain candy".

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman - So excited to read this one! It will be my first Neil Gaiman and I cannot wait!

Not Pictured:

The Doctor Who Visual Dictionary - I... I can't believe I actually found this one on Goodreads. It's exactly like it sounds. Also procured at Forbidden Planet. I haven't looked at this one too in depth because I didn't want to spoil myself on a couple things.

Scott Pilgrim vs. The World by Bryan Lee O'Malley - Volume 2 of the Scott Pilgrim books. I should have just bought them all. Stupid money management attempts.

Jane Austen Made Me Do It: Original Stories Inspired by Literature's Most Astute Observer of the Human Heart edited by Laurel Ann Nettress - Another one I'm so excited to read. I'm a huge Jane Austen fan, so I can't wait to dive into this one. (I'll refer you to my About Me page for a picture of my dachshund, Mr. Darcy.)

TGIF at GReads! {20}

2011-11-04T13:04:00.001-05:00

TGIF is a weekly feature hosted by Ginger over at GReads! Each week, Ginger asks her followers a question to help us get to know one another better. It's also a chance to re-cap blog posts from the past week. I'm working on this week's in between getting dressed and throwing on some make-up, and I still may not finish until I'm at work. So we'll see how that works, continuity-wise. This week's question:

Gateway Books: Which particular books opened you up to a new genre?

I read The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan earlier this year and fell in love with dystopian novels. I loved the WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT TELLMERIGHTNOW desperation of it, the emotional turmoil, and the zombies. I especially loved the zombies. I had so many "holding my breath until I know for sure every one is alright" moments that I probably almost passed out. It was like a drug and I wanted more. I have a whole pile of dystopian books waiting to be read, and many more waiting to be bought. I've read a healthy amount this year, but can't wait to read more.

Next on the list, which there is no picture for because I'm now at work and we can't download to our computers, is Twilight by Stephenie Meyer. A friend bugged the ever-loving snot out of me to read it and I'm so glad I did! I fell head over heels with it, and also fell right into to paranormal/urban fantasy genre. Cassandra Clare's The Mortal Instruments helped a whole lot with that fall. I realized I love vampires, werewolves, fae, and anything else that goes bump in the night. For some reason, I'd completely avoided fantasy and had lived in the world of "everything must be real". Once I got more into fantasy, however, I never looked back and it practically takes an act of God to get me to read anything else.

That is, until I picked up Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins and remembered how much I love Contemporary! It reminded me of how right Young Adult Contemporary books are right now, even though I'd been reading Maureen Johnson, John Green, and the like for a couple years. Anna made me want to delve deeper into the genre, which I'm doing some this month.

One book that I must mention is Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton. This is one of the books that really formed me reading when I was younger. I read it the year the movie came out, which means I was all of 10, and probably a bit too young. I think my parents were desperate for something that took me longer than a day to read, though. That book shaped my reading through high school, when I went back to reading books marketed for my age range. To this day, I'm a huge Michael Crichton fan and re-read Jurassic Park whenever I get the chance.

That's about it for my gateway books. Kind of a long post, but suddenly I had so much to say about them!

Vacation, All I Ever Wanted!

2011-11-02T00:00:00.000-05:00

Quick Update (written on Tuesday):

I just returned from a little vacation to the Big Apple! I went with my friend, Alannah, and we had an absolutely fabulous time.

Alannah and I (I'm on the left) at Alice's Tea Cup on our first day in NYC.

The primary motivation behind the trip was to see Daniel Radcliffe in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. He was so amazing in the show! I was blown away by his performance, because it was so completely different from the Harry Potter movies. I don't think there's any danger of this guy being typecast for the rest of his life. He can do freaking anything. The whole cast was awesome, and the show completely revitalized us. Saturday was a little rough because of this:

Yup. Snow.

There were a couple of bookish things that happened that I wanted to share with you.

First, we stumbled upon a building that was basically like the Mothership calling us home:

*operatic crescendo* Simon & Schuster! It was beautiful!

We also went to Strand, which is the best bookshop on the planet, as far as I'm concerned. There are 18 miles of books inside. I'm not kidding, y'all. 18. Miles. They have multiple editions for almost anything you can think of, and a little ARC section that has a few gems. You have to ask where that section is, though. It's their little hidden secret. :)

I may have picked up a few goodies for giveaways in December, so keep your eyes open!

If you've read Scott Westerfeld's Leviathan series, you'll probably recognize this little critter that I found at the American Museum of Natural History:

A Loris! A little less perspicacious than Bovril, I daresay.

It was a lovely vacation, but now I must return to the real world. Today, NaNoWriMo starts and I've been traveling all day, so I have some writing to do! Come find me, my username is MollyJo83!

Tune in Tuesday {15} - Soundtrack Edition!

2011-10-25T00:00:00.000-05:00

Tune in Tuesday is one of my favorite features! It's hosted by Ginger at GReads! and helps bring attention to new and/or old songs or artists. Music makes my little world go round, and I love sharing what I like and finding new music through this feature. In her tradition of general awesomeness, Ginger has made October's theme Soundtrack Edition! This week's pick:

"Muppet Show Theme Song" by OK Go and the Muppets

One thing about me that y'all don't know yet is that I love the Muppets. I have since I was little and my love has only grown as I've gotten older. I have The Muppet Show on DVD, as well as the movies. I'm beyond stoked for the new movie coming out next month! I grabbed soundtrack a little over a month ago and it's been in my car's CD player ever since. It's come in especially handy when I've had bad days. For those of you who don't know, The Green Album is a compilation of classic Muppet songs performed by different groups, like OK Go, Weezer, and Alkaline Trio. Matt Nathanson is another one on the album. Each song has a new twist, but at the heart, the spirit of the Muppets is still there. This video of the Theme Song is beyond adorable! It also made me think I need to check out OK Go's other music.

Enjoy the song and I hope it takes you on a delightful trip down memory lane!

Divergent by Veronica Roth

2011-10-24T12:59:00.000-05:00

Publisher: HarperCollins Children's Books
Publication Date: 05/03/11
Genre: Young Adult / Dystopian
Source: Personal Library / RAK gift

Beatrice "Tris" Prior has reached the fateful age of sixteen, the stage at which teenagers in Veronica Roth's dystopian Chicago must select which of five factions to join for life. Each faction represents a virtue: Candor, Abnegation, Dauntless, Amity, and Erduite. To the surprise of herself and her selfless Abnegation family, she chooses Dauntless, the path of courage. Her choice exposes her to the demanding, violent initiation rites of this group, but it also threatens to expose a personal secret that could place her in mortal danger. (Summary from goodreads.com)

Beatrice was raised to value selflessness, something she never felt like she quite had the hang of. Somehow, she always knew that she wasn't really meant to be Abnegation. This feeling is confirmed when she is tested, along with all the other sixteen-year-olds in Chicago. The results of the testing tell them which faction they belong to. For most, it will be the one they were raised in. For others, it will be completely different. For Beatrice, the results are surprising: she's Diveregent, meaning she would do well in more than one faction. Facing the hardest, and most selfish, decision of her life, Beatrice follows her heart and chooses Dauntless.

She (literally) dives into the initiation determined to prove that someone raised Abnegation could succeed among Dauntless. The Dauntless value courage and are charged with protecting the borders of Chicago. Just reading about the initiation challenges made me nervous. Each person is required to face their darkest fears, because therein lies the ultimate courage. The training is emotionally taxing and physically brutal at times, but Beatrice (now Tris) pushes through with everything she has. The Dauntless member in charge of training Tris' group of initiates is Four. Handsome, brooding, and ultimately infuriating, Tris is drawn to Four. As much as he tries to resist, Four is drawn to her as well, although a relationship between an initiate and her trainer could be disastrous for them both.

I loved watching the bond between Tris and Four grow. At times I felt a little separate from it, but I think that had everything to do with the reader and nothing to do with how it was written. I read this book very slowly, which isn't always a bad thing. But it was a kind of slow that was beyond savoring and became somewhat detrimental to my involvement in the story. I'd like to go back and read it again, but without the meandering pace this time. I was still able to become wrapped up in Four and Tris' relationship, just not as much as I was hoping for.

As always, there's so much more to this book than meets the eye. There's underlying tension between the factions, which could lead to a complete collapse of society if they aren't careful. Tris is determined to figure out what's going on, even when it puts her in danger. Compared to what Tris is dealing with from the other initiates, a little political intrigue feels like a drop in the bucket.

I love dystopian novels, and this one has definitely become one of my favorites. Tris has incredible courage and heart, and Four makes me melt just a little bit. The world Veronica Roth created is crazy, and I love it! I can't wait to read more of Tris and Four's story! I shall now begin to wait not so patiently for Insurgent.

TGIF at GReads! {19}

2011-10-21T00:00:00.000-05:00

TGIF is a weekly feature hosted by Ginger over at GReads! Each week, Ginger asks her followers a question to help us get to know one another better. It's also a chance to re-cap blog posts from the past week. Thank you all for the lovely complements on my reading chair last week! I very literally spent all of Sunday in it. Alright, on to this week's question:

Book Blogs That Make You Smile: Pick 5 book blogs you visit often and think others should, too.

Five?! Just five? Oh, man.

Here's my list, in absolutely no particular order.

1. The Book Garden

Of the 5 blogs listed here, this is my most recent find. I discovered this blog through the linky for one of Ginger's features. Some of Anne's favorite books are historical fiction and classics, which I also love. I enjoy the content on her blog and have added several books she's reviewed lately to my TBR list.

2. Katelyn's Blog

I absolutely adore Katelyn! Her blog is full of energy and her reviews are always honest. From what I read on there, we have similar tastes, so I know I can always find a good book through her blog.

3. Books Devoured

Shannon reads a little bit of everything and I love reading her views. Her blog is another one where I know I can find a good recommendation and honest viewpoint. I also love chatting with Shannon on Twitter.

4. Books and a Cup of Tea

I was first attracted to this blog by the title and quickly realized what a great find it was. Meghan gives thoughtful reviews, and it's easy to get a feel for her personality in her blog posts.

5. Reading With Martinis

Another blog that has a little bit of everything. I've seen several book on Kelly's blog lately that I'm not sure I would have picked up on my own. I absolutely love the layout of her blog, too! I get completely overwhelmed by the whole layout thing on my own blog, so I really admire the ones who do it well.

Re-cap!!

Review: Goliath (Leviathan #3) by Scott Westerfeld

Tune in Tuesday {14} - Soundtrack Edition! "Defying Gravity" from Wicked

The Vincent Boys by Abbi Glines

My Favorite Words

2011-10-20T12:59:00.003-05:00

Due to poor planning on my part, I am without a review today. So I'm going to do something a little different.

I collect quotes. I have this notebook that I've been writing quotes in since high school. They come from everywhere: movies, books, people I admire. I just plain love words.

I follow To Write Love On Her Arms on twitter (@TWLOHA) which is a non-profit organization that works to promote awareness and help for people suffering from depression. addiction, self-injury, and suicide. Every day, they post an inspirational quote on Twitter, and today's was from Libba Bray, and happened to be one of my favorite quotes from her Gemma Doyle series. This gave me the idea to share some of my favorite quotes.

I must remember to forgive myself. Because there is a lot of grey to work with. No one can live in the light all the time. - Libba Bray

Some of my very favorite quotes come from Oscar Wilde, who can be profound, hilarious, and irreverent all in the same breath.

Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.

I am so clever that sometimes I don't understand a single word of what I'm saying.

To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that it all.

The Vincent Boys by Abbi Glines

2011-10-19T01:34:00.000-05:00

Publication Date: 10/21/11
Genre: Older Young Adult
Source: Received from Author

Being the good girl isn't all it's cracked up to be. Ashton Gray has grown weary of playing the part to please her parents, and to be worthy of the town's prince charming, Sawyer Vincent. Maybe that's why she's found herself spending time with Sawyers cousin, Beau, while he's away for the summer camping with his family. Beau is nothing like her perfect boyfriend. He's the sexiest guy she's every seen, dangerous in ways she's only day dreamed about, and the one guy she should stay away from.

Beau never envied Sawyer his loving parents, his big nice home, or his position as quarterback. He loves him like a brother. Which is why he's tried everything in his power to keep his distance from Sawyer's girlfriend. Even if he has loved her since the age of five, Ashton is Sawyer's girl, so therefore she's off limits. But when Sawyer leaves for the summer, Ashton, the one girl Beau would move Heaven and Earth for, decides she wants to get into trouble. Stabbing the one person who's always accepted him and stood by him in the back is the cost of finally holding Ashton Gray in his arms. Is she worth losing his cousin over?...Hell Yeah! (Summary from goodreads.com)

You know how sometimes when you're reading a book, you get all wrapped up in the emotions and that fluttery feeling starts in your chest? That's how I felt reading The Vincent Boys. Once I started, I couldn't stop. Abbi Glines kept me up way past my bedtime, and not for the first time! (Not that she'll feel any guilt over this whatsoever.)

Beau, Sawyer, and Ashton were inseparable growing up, and Ashton and Beau were best friends. That is, until the boys started to notice that Ashton was changing in ways they didn't really expect. Pretty soon, it wasn't Ashton, her best friend Beau, and his cousin Sawyer; it was Ashton, her boyfriend Sawyer, and his cousin Beau. And Beau just sat back and watched for years, because Sawyer had moved first. But that didn't mean he liked what he saw. He saw Ashton changing again. She was trading in her fun-loving side for a girl who visited the nursing home on a regular basis, who never smarted off at anyone, and who never really spoke her mind. Then, when Sawyer goes on vacation, Ashton seems to remember what it was like to cut loose and begins to miss that part of her life. So she turns to the one person she knows will remember: Beau.

The chemistry between Ashton and Beau was A-ma-zing. Talk about sizzle! I loved their interactions and banter. In hindsight, perhaps Beau was a leeeetle possessive of Ashton, but when I was reading it wasn't something that bothered me. I think that's because Ashton is most definitely the kind of girl who can stick up for herself and isn't afraid to speak her mind to Beau, or anyone else later on. When Ashton lets herself be walked all over, I wanted to shake and her, and yell that I knew she was made of stiffer stuff than the way she was acting. It's always frustrating to see a strong character acting weak. Ashton realizes that's exactly what she's been doing, and Beau helps her break through her "good girl" patterns. She saw it as an internal struggle between being the good girl or the bad girl, but really it was about being the person everyone expected her to be or following her heart and being her true self.

I liked Sawyer, but not nearly as much as Beau. Probably because we get to know a lot more about Beau, being that the story alternates between his point of view and Ashton's. Some of my favorite parts were when we were inside Beau's head. *fans self* I'll just go ahead and point out here that this is definitely a book for older teens and young adults. There are some racier scenes, so keep that in mind if you're looking to recommend to a teen. Another issue that I've considered when I look back at the book is that if Ashton and Beau give in to their hearts, she'll be cheating on Sawyer. Again, oddly, this didn't bother me because she was so clearly with the wrong cousin! The way their relationship evolves is so natural and sweet. And more often than not, things aren't always black and white, just like in their situation.

If you're looking for a good read with fantastic characters, a good plot, and swoon-worthy scenes, The Vincent Boys is right up your ally! Did I mention there are boys with trucks? I really don't know what it is with me and boys who drive trucks. I'm a sucker for them, though. Is this a Southern thing? Sometimes, there's just something sexy 'bout a truck.

Also, love the cover!

For more about Abbi Glines and her upcoming book, Existence, check out her website.

Tune in Tuesday {14} - Soundtrack Edition!

2011-10-18T01:45:00.000-05:00

Tune in Tuesday is one of my favorite features! It's hosted by Ginger at GReads! and helps bring attention to new and/or old songs or artists. Music makes my little world go round, and I love sharing what I like and finding new music through this feature. In her tradition of general awesomeness, Ginger has made October's theme Soundtrack Edition! This week's pick:

"Defying Gravity" from Wicked

Performed by Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth
(This is a performance from the 2004 Tony Awards and there's a little intro in the beginning. Just a warning in case you want to skip that part.)

I couldn't let the Soundtrack Edition pass without including this song. I love musical theater and this is one of my very favorite songs. I would love to have seen these two in Wicked. This is one of my favorite songs to blast in my car and pretend I'm a Broadway star. Did I mention I'm always alone in the car when I do this? I get chill bumps whenever I watch a video of this song being performed. Hope you enjoy!

Goliath (Leviathan #3) by Scott Westerfeld

2011-10-17T12:54:00.002-05:00

Publisher: Simon Pulse
Publication Date: 09/20/11
Genre: Young Adult / Steampunk
Source: Personal Library

Alek and Deryn are on the last leg of their round-the-world quest to end World War I, reclaim Alek's throne as prince of Austria, and finally fall in love. The first two objectives are complicated by the fact that their ship, the Leviathan, continues to detour farther away from the heart of the war (and crown). And the love thing would be a lot easier if Alek knew Deryn was a girl. (She has to pose as a boy in order to serve in the British Air Service.) And if they weren't technically enemies.

The tension thickens as the Leviathan steams toward New York City with a homicidal lunatic on board: secrets suddenly unravel, characters reappear, and nothing is as it seems in this thunderous conclusions to Scott Westerfeld's brilliant trilogy. (Summary from goodreads.com)

I'm writing this at work and unable to add the cover pic. I'll throw that up there when I get home.

What a wonderful conclusion to a fabulous series! I've loved this trilogy from the word "Go" because it engaged so many parts of my brain and interests. The side of my that enjoys engineering and science was completely enthralled by the descriptions and pictures of the fabricated beasts and Clanker machines. I also love historical fiction, so the setting was perfect for me. So many elements came together in these books, and I enjoyed each one immensely.

One of the main points in Goliath is the introduction of Nikola Tesla, an electrical and mechanical engineer who claims to possess the weapon that will end the war completely. Having had a nasty run-in with a Tesla Cannon in Behemoth, the crew of the Leviathan is none too pleased to take Tesla on board and transport him to New York City, where his weapon is housed. Dr. Barlow, the "lady boffin" who has been on board the Leviathan for their entire journey, isn't exactly trusting and sends Alek and Deryn to do some investigating. Alek seems quite taken with Tesla, believing that he can help Alek achieve his destiny. Especially since Tesla seems to have switched from the Clanker side to the Darwinist side, much as Alek himself seems to have done.

I must say, when it came to the revelation of Deryn's great secret, Alek took it better than I thought he would. I don't want to say much more on the issue, except that throughout the series, Alek has held very strong opinions on the proper stations for men and women. A female in the British Air Service most definitely not fit into his views, and Deryn has been wary of this since she realized her feelings for him. It's definitely a test for Alek and turns his opinions upside down.

There are reappearances of familiar faces, like Lillit and the disgusting reporter, Eddie Malone. There are also a few American women who come on the scene and give Deryn an idea of the kind of freedom and options she may have one day.

I know I've mentioned it before in my posts about the previous books in the series, but I want to draw attention again to Keith Thompson's illustrations. Coming up with the visuals for all the machines mentioned, and bringing them to life in such amazing detail is such an awesome accomplishment. It brings to much life to the story and add a whole other dimension. They add a whole new level of enjoyment because there's no way I could have come up with those images on my own.

I love the bits of pop culture from the early 1900s that are put in the novel. I was watching Beach Blanket Bingo the other day, which is a Frankie Avalon / Annette Funicello movie from the 60s (a HUGE weakness of mine) and there was a reference to The Perils of Pauline. I'm pleased to saw that I knew what they were talking about because of this book. :)

I've loved this series and these characters so much! I'm sad the trilogy is over, but it was such a great ending and wrap up. The Leviathan trilogy is definitely going on my all time favorites list!

For more about Scott Westerfeld and his other books and series, please check out his website.
Also check out Keith Thompson's website for more of his fabulous art.

TGIF at GReads {18}

2011-10-14T00:09:00.001-05:00

TGIF is a weekly feature hosted by Ginger over at GReads! Each weekly, Ginger asks her followers a question to help us get to know one another better. It's also a chance to re-cap blog posts from the past week. This week's question:

Show & Tell: Where do you grab a book and get lost in it? Show us your favorite spot you like to read at.

My favorite spots to read aren't some amazing garden, or park bench in a secluded location. It's not even the beach, despite the fact that it's only 20 minutes away. In fact, I hate reading at the beach. Too many distractions. These spots aren't fancy, but they are comfy!

Favorite spot #1:

Large, comfy chair in my living room. It's the perfect size for me to curl up in with some coffee or tea and a book.

Favorite spot #2:

Yup, that's my (unmade) bed. It's where I do a lot of my reading, generally very late into the night. Especially on weeknights when I have to get up for work the next day. Those pillows make a lovely nest, though. And see how the edge of the bed serves as a table of sorts? Those items are always there, unless I have them with my during the day, of course. Glasses, reading light, book, and phone. I've ruined many a pair of reading glasses by falling asleep while I'm wearing them. This is why I only but cheap readers. The book currently on the bed is The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson. So excited to start that one!

Re-Cap!

This week's re-cap actually covers a couple of week's worth of posts. Things were a little sporadic here for a bit, so I'm just going to throw them all up here.

Review: Damage Control by Denise Hamilton

Review: Drink, Slay, Love by Sarah Beth Durst

Tune in Tuesday {11} - "Fire" by Augustana

Tune in Tuesday {12} - A Fine Frenzy

Preoccupations

TGIF at GReads! (I was lazy last week and didn't do the re-cap then)

Tune in Tuesday {13} Soundtrack Edition! - "Just for Now" by Imogen Heap (From The Holiday)

Review: Behemoth (Leviathan #2) by Scott Westerfeld

Review: Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

I hope you all had a good week, and have a fantabulous weekend!!

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

2011-10-13T00:00:00.000-05:00

Publisher: Quirk Publishing
Publication Date: 06/07/11
Genre: Young Adult / Fantasy / Paranormal
Source: Personal Library

A mysterious island.

An abandoned orphanage.

A strange collection of very curious photographs.

It all wait's to be discovered in Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, an unforgettable novel that mixes fiction and photography in a thrilling reading experience. As out story opens, a horrific family tragedy sets sixteen-year-old Jacob journeying to a remote island off the coast of Wales, where he discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children. As Jacob explores its abandoned bedrooms and hallways, it becomes clear that the children were more than just peculiar. They may have been dangerous. They may have been quarantined on a deserted island for good reason. And somehow - impossible though it seems - they may still be alive. (Summary from goodreads.com)

Jacob always had a special relationship with his grandfather, Abe. So when Jacob finds Abe murdered, it turns his world upside down in more ways than one. Haunted by his grandfather's last words, Jacob convinces his parents to let him travel to the British island where Abe escaped during World War II. Jacob isn't sure what he'll find, but he's desperate for the connection to his grandfather, and to figure out once and for all what killed him. (You heard me. What. Not who.) Jacob meets a cast of characters his grandfather used to tell him about, but were written off as the ramblings of an old man. Each child has some sort of special ability, such as flying or creating fire in their hand, or superhuman strength. The kind of things you might see in an old traveling circus, which is where many of the children came from! They open up a whole new world for Jacob, and alter his life forever.

This book had some major creep out moments, which I loved! Throughout the book, moments and characters are accompanied with old pictures, which really adds to the atmosphere and imagery of the novel and was an incredibly creative touch. With such an odd assortment of characters, you need the extra help! I really enjoyed Ransom Riggs' writing, which was laced with a wry sense of humor that really appealed to me. I will admit I got quite irritated with Jacob at times because he could be such a complete jerk! I tried to cut him a little slack, seeing as he had just watched his grandfather die in his arms, but geez! The story itself was haunting and so many little details came together to create the whole picture.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I'm interested to see if there will be other, because the end left things wide open. The twists were well disguised and I totally didn't see them coming. There was just the right mix of suspense and comedy. I'm not sure I'd put this book in the "horror" category, but there were definitely a couple parts I wish I hadn't read at night, alone, in the dark.

For more about Ransom Riggs, check out his website.

Behemoth (Leviathan #2) by Scott Westerfeld

2011-10-12T00:12:00.001-05:00

Publisher: Simon Pulse
Publication Date: 10/05/10
Genre: Young Adult/Science Fiction/Steampunk
Source: Personal Library

The behemoth is the fiercest creature in the British navy. It can swallow enemy battleships with one bit. The Darwinists will need it, now that they are with the Clanker powers.

Deryn is a girl posing as a boy in the British Air Service, and Alek is the heir to an empire posing as a commoner. Finally together aboard the airship Leviathan, they hope to bring the war to a halt. But when disaster strikes the Leviathan's peacekeeping mission, they find themselves alone and hunted in enemy territory.

Alek and Deryn will need great skill, new allies, and brave hearts to face what's ahead. (Summary from goodreads.com)

I'm going to be so sad when this series ends. So, so sad

In the last book, Alek was out of his element aboard the Leviathan. This time, Deryn finds herself in the world of the Clankers, roaming Istanbul with Alek. The two find allies in a group of Ottoman Revolutionaries and aid in plotting to overthrow the government. As Deryn spends more time with the Clankers, the line dividing the two sides begins to blur a little, just as it started to do for Alek the more time he spent on the Leviathan. More time is spent understanding the Clanker technology and that side of the war. I'm anticipating that the third book will have more about combining the Darwinist and Clanker technologies.

The illustrations continue to add so much to the story! There are so many complicated Clanker machines and contraptions in this one that it helps immensely to be able to have a reference point. Keith Thompson does an amazing job. As an artist, I'm wishing I had even a 10th of his talent in drawing and illustrating.

Westerfeld does not waste time mucking about in the beginning. Since you got most of the back story and build up in Leviathan, he launches right into the action. I really liked watching the development of Deryn and Alek's relationship, especially Deryn's chagrin at the realization that she's falling in love with Alek. It feels "unsoldierly". A wonderful new addition to the story is Bovril, a fabricated beastie called a Perspicacious Loris. I'll leave you to discover all the wonderful details about Bovril. I don't want to spoil you. Just know that 'perspicacious' is now one of my favorite words.

Also, I think I might start incorporating the exclamation "Barking spiders!" into my every day life and conversation.

Tune in Tuesday {13} - Soundtrack Edition

2011-10-11T00:00:00.000-05:00

Tune in Tuesday is one of my favorite memes! It's hosted by Ginger at GReads! and helps bring attention to new and/or old songs or artists. Music makes my little world go round, and I love sharing what I like and finding new music with this meme. In her tradition of general awesomeness, Ginger has made October's theme Soundtrack Edition! This week's pick:

"Just for Now" by Imogen Heap

From the movie The Holiday

The Holiday is one of my favorite movies, and I immediately thought of this song when Ginger mentioned this month's theme. This is a really cute video of some great moments from the movie that goes really well with this song. The Holiday will always have a special place in my heart because it was one of the first romantic movies I could watch after my Major Break-Up in 2007. (I had been engaged.) Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet were both perfection in this movie, and this song describes Cameron Diaz's character exactly. The Holiday is such a great feel-good movie, and I watch it every chance I get. It helped heal my heart, and has brightened many a sad day.

I also happen to think Imogen Heap is lovely.

TGIF at GReads! {17}

2011-10-07T00:03:00.000-05:00

What's this?! A blog post?! *watches as followers fall over in shock* I know, it's been awhile. Many apologies. I see that none of you left me, though, and I'm very grateful for that. I even gained a couple followers! *waves* God only knows how, but I'm very glad you're here!!

TGIF is a weekly meme hosted by Ginger at GReads! Each week, in celebration of Friday and the return of the weekend, Ginger asks her followers a question, and provides a link up for the answers. It's also a chance to give a wrap-up of the week's posts. This week's question:

To-Be-Read's: How big is your pile? Which book keeps getting pushed down the stack, but you keep meaning to read it?

So....I'm going to go with recently purchased books on this one, and one or two I've agreed to read for review. (My working definition of "recent" for the purposes of this blog post is within the last 3-4 months.)

On my bookshelf, there are 10, plus 2 on their way in the mail. There are 7 on my Nook. So we're up to 19 now. I just remembered 3 more, which makes 22. There are more, I'm absolutely sure of it. Those are just the ones I can find right away. Also, I put myself on a book buying hold for awhile, so not as many were purchased. The newest are A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness and The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern. Oh, and The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson, which came in the mail on Tuesday!

One that keeps getting pushed to the bottom of the pile is Gone by Lisa McMann. It's not that I don't want to read it; I really do. I just don't want the series to end. Does this happen to anyone else? I find that the third book in a trilogy gets pushed to the back burner quite often for me.Mainly because I get so worried that it won't me my expectations. I need to fall back on my favorite motto in this situation: Be open to the outcome, not attached to it.

As a general trend, I put books I've purchased on the back burner and read books for review first. This has led to some intense frustration lately, because I see these stacks of books people have loaned me, or I've bought because I was itching to read them, but just haven't. And it's not the review requests I get through email, because I don't get many of those. It's NetGalley and Galley Grab that keep tripping me up, so there aren't any books from there in my current TBR pile. I've been trying to focus on books I own, and just a few review requests. So far, this system is working well for me.

I also remember 3 more books for the TBR pile, so that makes 25. Let's leave it at that number, even though we all know it's actually much bigger.

Preoccupations

2011-09-26T00:00:00.000-05:00

I haven't been blogging much lately. It's partly due to the fact that I've been working more, and mostly due to the fact that I haven't been reading as much. And that, my friends, is the fault of this man:

And this man:

And this one:

And partially the fault of this man:

Yes, that's right. I've started watching Doctor Who. And it's completely taken over my life. But it's so wonderful!

I've been wanting to watch it for awhile, and started catching some episodes on BBC America. This only led to intense confusion. I finally got Netflix and now I'm in Doctor Who watching heaven. I'm through the first two seasons and madly in love. I'm trying to balance my new ~~obsession~~ interest with my reading, and until the last couple days, have failed miserably. It's just so easy to get completely wrapped up in the series! It feeds my geeky nature and the Doctor's snarkiness and sense of humor makes me soooo happy. One of the most delightful parts of Skyping with my friend, Dorothy Donne, while I watch. Sometimes she watches the episodes with me if she thinks I might need a little moral support. (One word: regeneration) Watching the show also reminds me of my brief stay in London a few years ago and how much I loved it and want to go back.

Also, I really need a sonic screwdriver. Can anyone make that happen?

Tune in Tuesday {12}

2011-09-20T12:48:00.003-05:00

Hello there! It's been awhile, yes? By awhile, I mean a week since I posted. I still love you all, and hope you still love me.

Did I mention how nice you all look today?

Tune is Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by Ginger at GReads! It's also one of my absolute favorite memes. Each week, Ginger posts and old or new song in hopes of gaining a little more attention and love for that song or artist. I'm currently at work, so no graphic. Maybe I'll throw it on here later.

"Happier" by A Fine Frenzy

A Fine Frenzy (Allison Sudol) is one of my favorite artists. I love her voice and the overall mood of her music. I started listening to her in the fall, which is why I crave her music when September hits. I'm hoping for some new music from her soon. This song is a wee bit melancholy, but it's also one of my favorites. There's so much emotion in this song, and so much of it rings true.

Since this is essentially a break-up song, and I don't want to be completely depressing this week, have another by A Fine Frenzy. This one is about the happiness and giddy feelings of love, not the aftermath.

"Electric Twist" by A Fine Frenzy

Tune in Tuesday {11}

2011-09-13T00:00:00.000-05:00

Tune in Tuesday is hosted by Ginger at GReads, and is one of my favorite memes!! Each week, Ginger posts a song, either new or old, to help it get a little more attention. I've discovered so much new music through this meme, and renewed my love for lots of old music!

"Fire" by Augustana

As the seasons change, so does the type of music I crave. In the spring and summer, all I want is punk pop or something I can blast and sing along to in the car. As fall and winter approach, I seem to mellow out a little and can't get enough of the singer/songwriters I love. Augustana makes up a large percentage of the playlists I've been listening to lately, and I absolutely adore this song. I seriously melt every time I hear it. When it comes on Pandora at work, I stop everything to listen. I, personally, think it's one of the best songs ever, and definitely one of my all time favs. I love how this band leads with the piano, too. I would do just about anything to see Augustana live.

Perhaps you've heard of a young man named Greyson Chance, who has a set of lungs like no other! I really like his cover of this song.

Drink, Slay, Love by Sarah Beth Durst

2011-09-07T00:00:00.000-05:00

Publisher: McElderry
Publication Date: 09/13/11
Genre: Young Adult Urban Fantasy
Source: Simon & Schuster Galley Grab

Pearl is a sixteen-year-old vampire...found of blood, allergic to sunlight, and mostly evil...until the night a sparkly unicorn stabs her through the heart with his horn. Oops.

Her family thinks she was attacked by a vampire hunter (because, obviously, unicorns don't exist), and they're shocked she survived. They're even more shocked when Pearl discovers she can now withstand the sun. But they quickly find a way to make use of her new talent. The Vampire King of New England has chosen Pearl's family to host his feast. If Pearl enrolls in high school, she can make lots of human friends and lure them to the King's feast - as the entrees.

The only problem? Pearl's starting to feel the twinges of a conscience. How can she serve up her new friends - especially the cute guy who makes her fangs ache - to be slaughtered? Then again, she's definitely dead if she lets down her family. What's a sunlight-loving vamp to do? (Summary from goodreads.com)

This may very well be one of the best vampire stories I've ever read. It's certainly one of my favorites!

First, how awesome is that cover? I love it and it fits the book perfectly.

As the summary says, Pearl is just your average teenage vampire - until she's stabbed by a sparkly were-unicorn. You heard me. A were-unicorn. She's deposited on the porch of her home, safely out of the sunlight. Of course, no one in her Family believes her. But that doesn't stop them from exploiting her new, daywalking abilities.The Fealty Ceremony with the Vampire King of New England is a very prestigious event, where the young vampires are officially declared adults. Pearl's Family is chosen to host the event, which could mean status elevation if they succeed and death if they fail. Pearl enrolls in high school to gain entrance into the homes of enough teenagers to supply the meal for the feast. Surrounded by delicious, young bodies, Pearl should be in vampire feeding heaven. Unfrotunately, she can't bring herself to bite any of her schoolmates and new friends. The one question constantly running through Pearl's mind: What's WRONG with me?

I loved the premise of this story. It's definitely one of the most creative vampire novels I've read in awhile. I love watching characters discover new abilities and adjust to those changes, so Pearl's story was right up my ally. You really start to feel for her and the war within herself over which group to betray (because, really, there is no other way out). The snappy dialogue is fanTAStic! Pearl reminded me of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, if Buffy were the vampire...I think you know what I mean. The humor and action are similar. There are also snarky allusions to certain sparkly vampires that I quite enjoyed (even as a Twilight fan). Sarah Beth Durst laces the story with great humor, but also brings in the ruthlessness and brutality of the vampire clan. The suspense had me on the edge of my seat.

I'm wild about the supporting characters in the story. There are Evan and Bethanny, who seem to have some unknown insight into Pearl's home "situation" and how much she's changed recently. Matt and Zeke are two would-be vampire hunters who first attempt to kill Pearl, and then become two of her greatest allies. These two are magnificent. Their dialogue reminded me of Breckin Meyer's character from Clueless, although much less stoned. Then there's Pearl's Family: a mafia-like clan of aunts, uncles and cousins who are delightful in their own frightening way. The Vampire King chilled me to the bone. Of the vampires, Cousin Antoinette was one of my favorites. She's obsessed with 80s Brat Pack movies, and dreams of a bright pink prom dress a'la Molly Ringwald.

Overall, this is a fantastic, creative take on a vampire romance. Sarah Beth Durst educates you on Pearl's life and world without overwhelming you with details. I love the idea of the vampire's natural enemy being the were-unicorn, and when you really think about it, it makes a lot of sense. The big horn is perfect for staking. A "sparkling", fun read that will leave you with a smile and desperately wanting more.

For more on Sarah Beth Durst, Drink, Slay, Love and her other novels, check out her website.

R.A.K. - August Wrap-Up and September Sign-Up!

2011-09-05T02:14:00.001-05:00

Time for RAK Sign-Up!! Random Acts of Kindness is sponsored by Book Soulmates. It's an opportunity to send books and little gifts to other readers/bloggers, and spread a little love.

While I did not receive anything for August, I did send out a couple things, and it was fantastic to add a little sunshine to someone's day.

Here's how it works!

RULES RE-CAP:
*NEW INFO ADDED*
Sign up each month that you'd like to participate.

Show off your participation by grabbing our RAK button :)
Create a wish list (on Amazon, Goodreads, or your blog etc) and post it in the Google Doc located in each R.A.K post for the month.
If you choose to do a R.A.K for someone, check out their wish list and contact that blogger for their address.
*NEW* Please, once you receive a RAK, send us an our new email to [rakbybooksoulmates @ gmail . com] dedicated to RAK so that the Google Doc can be updated. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU SEND EMAILS TO THIS ADDRESS.
*NEW* E-book participation is limited to files being gifted directly to a person from the e-book store. Amazon's Kindle Store is set up to allow this, as well as the Kobo store and we believe Barnes & Noble as well.
At the end of the month, SHOW US YOUR R.A.K! Make a post saying 'Thank You' to whoever granted one of your wishes and share it with us :)

See the Book Soulmates post for September RAK HERE!

Sign up for September HERE!

See who all is participating HERE!

My Wish-List is on Goodreads. I'm in the process of making one for Amazon as well. Since they've added a column for handmade goodies, I may have to get crafty this month!

Damage Control by Denise Hamilton

2011-09-04T04:05:00.000-05:00

Publisher: Scribner
Publication Date: 09/06/11
Genre: Mystery/Suspense
Source: Simon & Schuster Galley Grab

Maggie Silver is solidly middle class, with a mortgage to pay and an ill mother to support. She does he best to scramble up the ladder at an exclusive, high-powered PR firm in Southern California, who clients are movie stars and famous athletes. Now, Maggie is being asked to take on her toughest client yet: Senator Henry Paxton, distinguished statesman from Southern California, who also happens to be the father of Annabelle, Maggie's former high school best friend.

Senator Paxton's young female aide has been found murdered, and it is up to Maggie to run damage control and prevent a scandal. Thrown back into the Paxtons' glamorous would, Maggie is unexpectedly flooded with memories from the stormy years in high school when her friendship with Annabelle was dramatically severed after a tragedy that neither of them has been able to forget. As Maggie gets further embroiled in the lives of the Paxtons, she realizes that the ties of her old friendship are stronger than she thinks.(Summary from goodreads.com)

Thank you to Simon & Schuster for the opportunity to read Damage Control.

Ever wonder who the people are that swoop in when celebrities, athletes, or political figures get into trouble? When laws are broken but someone doesn't want the whole truth to get out? That is Maggie Silver's job. She handles damage control in tight situations. The PR firm she works for decides how to spin statements to the press, wrangles the reporters, and puts the clients in the best light possible. This is what Maggie is called to do when Senator Paxton's aide is found murdered. Because of her past connection to the family, Maggie is in a unique position to get particularly close to the family. Unfortunately, Maggie's memories of her friendship with Annabelle Paxton aren't all sunshine and roses. There are events that took place in high school that both women would prefer remain buried.

The look inside the PR firm was most interesting. You definitely start to question the morals of people who can twist events and care only that they protect the person providing the paycheck. The fallout of damage control can be disastrous for the secondary players. The stress involved in that job is also tremendous. Throughout the story, Maggie deteriorates on a couple levels because of the strains put on her through her job. To add more intrigue, it appears that things aren't exactly on the up and up with the firm, and Maggie decides to do a little recon to figure out just what's going on. She takes on a bit more than she can handle as she struggles to keep her head above water. Add in a couple romantic interests, one who happens to be Senator Paxton's son and Maggie's longtime crush, and you've got a very busy girl!

I really felt like this book had a little bit of everything, and it appealed to me on many levels. I love a good mystery, and this one was filled with suspense. The political intrigue adds yet another dimension to the story. Throughout the novel, you can see the war happening within Maggie between doing her duty to her employer, and being a friend to Annabelle. Despite past events, Maggie really does care about Annabelle, and the bonds of that friendship are strained to the max. Maggie has to find her true center and figure out where her loyalties truly lie.

One of the really fun facets to the story is Maggie's obsession with perfume. Throughout the book, she explains why she picks certain fragrances for different situations, and is constantly on the quest for the perfect scent. It makes me want to start developing my own collection!

Denise Hamilton writes like a dream. Within the first three pages, I was completely hooked and drawn in by her style. I will admit that at time, Maggie seemed a little cold and distant, but I still enjoyed the character. The book is filled with little twists and misdirection that kept me guessing until the very end. Even after I read the last sentence, I wasn't completely sure I had figured it all out. That's not a bad thing, I promise! You just never quite know if certain people are good or bad. Damage Control has it all: mystery, suspense, political intrigue, and romance. It was an excellent book and I hope you'll check it out.I definitely can't wait to read more Denise Hamilton and already have one waiting to be read!

For more about Denise Hamilton and her other books, check out her website.

TGIF at GReads! {16}

2011-09-01T22:00:00.000-05:00

TGIF is a weekly meme hosted by Ginger at GReads! Each week, to celebrate the weekend, Ginger asks her followers a question to answer and link up. It's also an opportunity for a re-cap of the week's posts.

First, how cute is this new graphic! Great job, Ginger!

This week's question:

Making a Difference: What book(s) would you put in the hands of today's teenagers in the hopes of making a difference in their lives?

Oh man, oh man, oh man. You know, there are a lot of times when I read a book and think that it would be so important for teenagers to read. And now I can't think of more than one or two.

One book I read recently that stuck out to me was Beauty Queens by Libba Bray. I think so many times, girls are still put in a box of what they should or shouldn't do, and made to feel bad for wanting to do something outside of the box. It's so important to foster confidence in young women and I'm afraid this doesn't always happen. Beauty Queens is a hilarious book that's so fun to read. Under the humor is a very strong message of feminism and confidence. It shows girls that they don't have to fit some model of the perfect woman because there is no such thing. One girl is taught that sexual urges she is having are wrong, and she learns to change that outlook. (Clearly, this is a book for older teens. This goes back to the whole "there's a time and appropriate age for certain topics" conversation.) Another girl isn't actually a girl at all, but is comfortable is that skin and knows that she's perfect just the way she is. All of the girls have changed something about themselves, whether external or internal, so that they fit the beauty queen mold. Libba tell girls that it doesn't have to be like that.

I want to put this book in the hands of teenage girls to show them that whatever they are is just perfect. When I read it, Beauty Queens gave me, a 28 year old, more confidence and reminded me that I'm perfect just how I am. One of my goals is to make sure that young women feel that about themselves as well.

Re-Cap!

This week's re-cap includes posts from last week, since it was a bit of a skinny week.

The Unwanteds by Lisa McMann

Tune in Tuesday - 90s Edition {10} - "The Sign" by Ace of Base

Fade by Lisa McMann

Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld

Tune in Tuesday - 90s Edition {11} - "Inside Out" by Eve 6

Ultraviolet by R. J. Anderson

Born of Night (The League #1) by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Born of Night (The League #1) by Sherrilyn Kenyon

2011-09-01T00:32:00.000-05:00

Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks
Publication Date: 09/28/09
Source: Borrowed from a friend

In the Ichidian Universe, The League and their ruthless assassins rule all. Expertly trained and highly valued, the League Assassins are the backbone of the government. But not even the league is immune to corruption...

Command Assassin Nykyrian Quikiades once turned his back on the League - and has been hunted by them ever since. Though many have tried, non can kill him or stop him from completing his current mission: to protect Kiara Zamir, a woman whose father's political alliance has made her a target.

As her world becomes even deadlier, Kiara must entrust her life to the same kind of beast who once killed her mother and left her for dead. Old enemies and new threaten the bother and the only way they can survive is to overcome their suspicions and learn to trust in the very ones who threaten them the most: each other. (Summary taken from goodreads.com)

A friend loaned me this book, and it's what we like to call brain candy. It feeds our brain, but we don't have to think very hard about what we're reading. Excellent content and a nice treat for the brain.

Nykyrian was the League's best assassin, and the youngest to ever reach the level of Command Assassin. He was raised to be absolutely ruthless. And he is, until the League draws a line he will not cross: they ask him to kill a child. The first glimpse of humanity in a trained killer could have been his undoing. Instead, he forms a group whose goal is to protect the innocent and kill the scum. Nykyrian is also hunted constantly with a hefty price on his head. He's just as ruthless and unforgiving as before, but now Nykyrian has a bigger purpose.

Kiara is a beautiful and extremely talented ballet dancer, who happens to be the daughter of the President of her planet. Having survived numerous assassination attempts and seen her mother brutally slain before her eyes, Kiara develops a very justified hatred of all assassins. Until she meets Nykyrian.

I love these two characters. The banter between them gets an A+ and it's fun to watch Kiara trying to get Nykyrian to talk about himself. Both have put up strong walls around themselves. If no one gets though, then they can't get hurt. Both are extremely stubborn and strong-willed. Kiara is one of the first people to stand their ground with Nykyrian, even to the point of recklessness at times. But she's not the type to take things lying down and I love that in a MC. For Nykyrian, letting someone get close to him is literally a matter of life or death. He has secrets that not only protect him, but those who work with him. Watching the tendrils of trust develop between these two gave me warm fuzzies from head to toe. Nykyrian must show Kiara that she really will be protected, and she must show him that not everyone betrays. She has to teach Nykyrian that he's so much more than what he's been led to believe all his life. *heart flutters*

I loved the supporting characters in this book! First is Syn, Nykyrian's best friend and one of the only people who knows about Nyk's past. Syn has some issues as well, and these two are able to support each other, while keeping every one else at arms length. Next are Darling Cruel and Dancer Hauk, and yes, those are their real names. These two are the technical and explosives support, and again, banter gets an A+. Jayne rounds out the group who call themselves the Sentella. While there seems to be perfect trust among the group, Nyk is always prepared for someone to betray him, because that's all he's ever known.

Did I mention this book is super sexy? *fans self* I would give this one a good solid 'R' rating. Sherrilyn Kenyon has also created an incredibly intricate world. The fantastic job that authors do in creating the universes that exist in their books will never cease to amaze me. The storyline was captivating and suspenseful, with more than a few twists that I did NOT see coming.

There are so many elements to this story that I've left out, but it's impossible to include everything. I'm looking forward to reading the other League books. From the sneak peek of the next book, I think the stories will remain intertwined with a different character's story in each. You won't have the same MC for each book, but the books appear to be very connected. I've decided that Sherrilyn Kenyon is going to be one of my go-to authors for when I have a bad day. Romance and fantasy make for a great novel with just the right amount of mystery and suspense. Such a great read!

Ultraviolet by R. J. Anderson

2011-08-30T22:00:00.000-05:00

Publisher: Orchard
Publication Date: 09/01/11
Genre: Young Adult Paranormal Fiction
Source: Received from Publisher via NetGalley.com

Once upon a time there was a girl who was special.

This is not her story.

Unless you count the part where I killed her.

Sixteen-year-old Alison has been sectioned in a mental institute for teens, having murdered the most perfect and popular girl at school. But the case is a mystery: no body has been found, and Alison's condition is proving difficult to diagnose. Alison herself can't explain what happened: one minute she was fighting with Tori - the next she disintegrated. Into nothing. But that's impossible. Right? (Summary from goodreads.com)

When I download books for review, or even have a book recommended, I don't re-read the description before I start reading. I wish I had with this book, or at least read that this was paranormal fiction before I started reading it. Not because I don't like paranormal fiction, because I do. I love it. But had I known this, my reaction halfway through wouldn't have been, "This author has gone batshit crazy." A little preparation would have gone a long way.

Alison is a fascinating character. She wakes up in a mental institute with no recollection of how she got there. She slowly begins to remember the last moments of Tori Beaugrand, the most perfect, popular girl in school, and Alison's enemy. One minute Tori is there, the next she's gone and Alison basically has a nervous breakdown. Besides this little hiccup, Alison is a pretty normal sixteen-year-old. Well, aside from the fact that she sees images with sound and can see a color spectrum beyond anything an normal person can. She's spent her entire life hiding this from everyone around her until Dr. Sebasitan Faraday appears. He requests to study her and uncovers her secrets and so much more.

This is about the midpoint of the book, and where things change up a little bit. Before I continue, you must know two things:

I like the first half of the book.
I like the second half of the book.

As a whole though, I'm not so sure. I read it awhile ago and am still trying to decide. I really, really enjoyed the direction the book was going with the whole psychological thriller angle, so I was disappointed when things changed. That does not mean that the second half was bad, though. It was really quite good and, separate from the first half, I liked the direction it went in. I was just hung up on where I thought things were going and was disappointed.

I love the relationship that develops between Alison and Sebastian. He's the first person who doesn't treat her like she's completely nuts and helps her understand what's happening in her head. He helps her understand her sysnesthesia, which is a condition where the stimulation of one sense causes an involuntary response from other senses. Like looking at a series of numbers and seeing each digit as a different color. This plays a large role in the story and is really interesting.

If you've read the book, let me know what you thought! Even if you haven't but plan on reading it, let me know what you thought after you do. Please don't let my disappointment keep you from reading it, either! It's a well written book and I definitely want to read more by R. J. Anderson.

To know more about Ultraviolet, please check our R. J. Anderson's website.

Tune in Tuesday {11} - 90s Edition

2011-08-30T00:59:00.001-05:00

Tune in Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by Ginger at GReads! It's a chance to share music we love, and I've definitely found some great new music from this meme! Since this is the 90s Edition, we're sharing favorites from the 1990s. I'm going late 90s this week:

"Inside Out" by Eve 6

This song brings back so many memories from high school! Specifically, being in marching band and riding back from football games and contests, belting this song at the top of our lungs on the bus! I still love this song so much and listen to it quite frequently. I would watch MTV in the morning while I was getting ready for school and hope and pray for this video to come on. Does anyone else remember the morning video show (back when MTV actually aired videos) with the horoscopes crawling across the top? I watched it EVERY morning before school. Those were the days...

Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld

2011-08-29T01:49:00.002-05:00

Publisher: Simon Pulse
Publication Date: 10/06/09
Genre: Young Adult/Science Fiction/Steampunk
Source: Personal Library

Prince Aleksander, would-be heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, is on the run. His own people have turned on him. His title is worthless. All he has is a battleworn war machine and a loyal crew of men.

Deryn Sharp is a commoner, disguised as a boy in the British Air Service. She's a brilliant airman. But her secret is in constant danger of being discovered.

With World War I brewing, Alek and Deryn's paths cross in the most unexpected way...taking them on a fantastical, around-the-world adventure that will change both their lives forever. (Summary from goodreads.com)

This is one of those books that I bought right after it came out but for some reason didn't read until now, and am wondering why in the world it took me so long to pick it up!

Leviathan is an alternate history of World War I, blending historical events with fictional ones. Scott Westerfeld begins his history in the summer of 1914, the actual beginning of the War. I find the world he created absolutely fascinating. It feeds the analytical side of my brain beautifully, and makes me wish I had studied engineering or biology. On one side of the battle are the Darwinists, who have built their society on the scientific discoveries of Charles Darwin. In Leviathan, DNA had been discovered and fabricated "beasties" were the norm. The warships were created from the life threads of several different creatures, and were entire ecosystems in themselves. On the other side of the war were the Clankers, who built their society on engineering and machinery. Their warships were giant walkers that made me think of the Storm Trooper's walkers from Star Wars. The Clankers are taught to fear the fabrications of the Darwinists because they are so unnatural, and Darwinists can't understand why anyone would rely on metal and gears when you could have something living and breathing.

In the midst of politics and battle are Alek and Deryn, two unlikely allies who should be enemies. I love the friendship that forms between these two. They both desperately need someone to lean on and find that support in each other. Throughout the development of their friendship, they are both desperate to hide their true identities. Alek can't let anyone know he's the Austro-Hungarian Prince, and Deryn can't let anyone know she's a girl. That becomes even more complicated when she starts to feel little flutters when she's around Alek (collective Awwww!). I just enjoyed their interaction so much. Deryn is the type to say what she's thinking the moment she thinks it and isn't afraid to tell anyone they're being daft. Alek is all propriety and manners. They both have these amazing reserves of strength, and more in common than you would initially think.

I love Scott Westerfeld's writing style and the humor that laces through the story. It would catch me off guard and have me laughing out loud! The story flows beautifully and I didn't want to put it down! One of my favorite additions to the novel were the illustrations. The creatures and machines described are extremely complicated and kind of hard to imagine (thus my immediate Star Wars imagery), so having pictures of them was an immense help! Keith Thompson does an amazing job, and it brings such clarity to the story. So often I wonder how the author pictures the characters. Admit it, we've all gone through and cast the characters of a book in our head to invest ourselves even more in the story. I realize that these are Keith Thompson's images, but I'm sure there was some sort of collaboration. The illustrations helped keep my imagination a little more grounded throughout the story. For some reason, I tend to picture some characters being about three times the size of a normal human. So, in Leviathan, it would have been 2 fifteen-year-olds surrounded by giants on a massive airship. Made even more massive by the fact that it's inhabited by giants. Do you see the problem?

Bottom line, this is a fantastic presentation of an alternate history filled with such imagination that I'm blown away. I realize I use that particular phrase a lot in my reviews, but I really was bowled over by this book. You know how sometimes an author's imagination and capacity to create such an intricate world will just overwhelm you? That's how I feel about Leviathan and Scott Westerfeld. I'm so excited to read Behemoth and Goliath.

For more about Scott Westerfeld and his writing, check out his website.

Fade by Lisa McMann

2011-08-28T00:33:00.000-05:00

Publisher: Simon Pulse
Publication Date: 02/10/09
Genre: Young Adult
Source: Personal Library

Some nightmares never end.
For Janie and Cabel, real life is getting tougher than the dreams. They're just trying to carve out a little (secret) time together, with no such luck.

Disturbing things are happening at Fieldridge High, yet nobody's talking. When Janie taps into a classmate's violent nightmares, the case finally breaks open - but nothing goes as planned. Not even close. Janie's in way over her head, and Cabe's shocking behavior has grave consequences for them both.

Worse yet, Janie learns the truth about herself and her ability - and it's bleak. Seriously, brutally bleak. Not only is her fate as a dream catcher sealed, but what's to come is way darker than she'd feared... (Summary from goodreads.com)

WARNING: This review will be slightly spoilery. I'm going to include some information (characters only, no events) from the first book, so if you haven't read it, beware!

Once again, Lisa McMann's simple dialogue filled with emotions and passion has blown my mind.I could not put this book down from the second I started reading it. Fade has the same appeal that Wake did with even more meat. It builds on the events that took place in Wake. Because of certain things that went down, Janie and Cabe are still keeping their relationship a secret, but that doesn't make it any less steamy! And I still love Cabe just as much as I did in the first book. Maybe more.

Janie begins to use her "talent" for good, by working with the local police force. She's assigned the job of peeking into the dreams of fellow students to help track down a sexual predator. Unfortunately, this also includes doing a little recon while she's awake. She most definitely pushes herself, and Cabe, to the limits in this one. It's a heavy topic, but unfortunately one of very real concern. The perpetrators in this book made me sick, and I was guessing right up until the end. That aspect of the story was masterfully suspenseful.

Through working with the Captain, Janie also gains more insight into her ability as a dreamcatcher. She has more encounters with Martha Stubin, an elderly woman we met in Wake who was also a dreamcatcher. Ms. Stubin helps Janie harness her ability, and enlightens her as to what her future will be. Janie isn't sure she likes the outlook, but what choice does she have?

Janie really begins to develops what I like to call a "family of choice". Her mother is consumed by her alcoholism and not in Janie's life at all. The girl can come and go as she pleases and her mother never notices. No one is really there to take care of her or even show an interest in her life. She's had no one to turn to with regard to her ability, or even just everyday teenage problems. Until now. Not only does Janie have Cabe to lean on, the Captain becomes an important figure in her life. I really like the relationship that I see developing there, and hope there will be more of it in the next book.

I own Gone but have yet to read it because I don't want this series to end! I love these characters and really don't want to let them go.

For more about Lisa McMann and the Dreamcatcher series, please check out her website.

TGIF at GReads! {15}

2011-08-25T22:00:00.000-05:00

TGIF is a weekly meme hosted by Ginger at GReads! Each week, Ginger asks a question for her followers to answer and link up. It happens to be one of my favorite weekly features, and was nominated for Best Book Blog meme for Book Blogger Appreciation Week. Congrats Ginger! This week's question:

Book Association: Which genre, authors, or particular books do you think people associate with your reading style?

I have no idea! I feel like I jump around so much as far as genres go. I have such varied interests! There's a joke between a friend and I that we read anything with pages. For the sake of continuity on my blog, I've been sticking to Young Adult fiction, but that includes anything from contemporary fiction, to urban fantasy, to paranormal romance, to dystopia. I find that if I limit myself to one genre, I'm going to get bored. That's just my nature. It's the same way with crafts; I have to mix up my projects. I also have to mix up my books.

While the majority of my reviews on here are YA, I do like to read quite a bit of general fiction. Sometimes I'll review it, sometimes I won't. It really depends on the book. I have a couple reviews coming up this week that aren't YA books. Like I said before, I have such wide interests. I'm not sure anyone could pin down my reading style. I certainly can't.

What do y'all think?

Regarding a re-cap, things in my personal life have been so crazy and stressful recently that not a lot happened on the blog this week. I'll tack it onto next week's TGIF.

Have a great weekend!

Tune in Tuesday {10} - 90s Edition!

2011-08-23T00:14:00.001-05:00

Tune in Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by Ginger at GReads! Each week, a new song or artist is highlighted to spread the love! Books aren't our only passion! Music plays a very important part in my life and I love this feature. Since this is 90s Edition, we're featuring some of our favorite songs from the 90s. It was soooo hard for me to choose which one to post this week, but I finally settled on one of my absolute favs.

"The Sign" by Ace of Base

Oh yes, I loved Ace of Base. I had the cassette tape and listened to it all the time! I remember my friends and I laying in front of the tape player, singing at the top of our lungs. How our parents must have hated us. This was also one of my first CDs. Whenever I hear this song I have to smile. I think I was in a shoe store the first time I saw the video (how's that for a good memory that borders on creepy? :D). After I started listening to Ace of Base, my Dad introduced me to ABBA because of the striking similarities in the make-up of the band.

The Unwanteds by Lisa McMann

2011-08-20T22:30:00.000-05:00

Publisher: Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing

Publication Date: 08/30/11

Source: Simon and Schuster Galley Grab

Every year in Quill, thirteen-year-olds are sorted into categories: the strong, intelligent Wanteds go to university, and the artistic Unwanteds are sent to their deaths.

Thirteen-year-old Alex tries his hardest to be stoic when his fate is announced as Unwanted, even while leaving behind his twin, Aaron, a Wanted. Upon arrival at the destination where he is expected to be eliminated, however, Alex discovers a stunning secret - behind the mirage of the "death farm" there is instead a place called Artime.

In Artime, each child is taught to cultivate their creative abilities and learn how to use them magically, weaving spells through paintbrushes and musical instruments. Everything Alex has ever known changes before his eyes, and it's a wondrous transformation.

But it's a rare, unique occurrence for twins to be separated between Wanted and Unwanted, and as Alex and Aaron's bond stretches across their separation, a threat arises for the survival of Artime that will pit brother against brother in an ultimate, magical battle.

Can you fathom growing up in a world where there is no color? No jokes or laughter? Where people close to the leader could be dismissed and even executed for having dreams? Welcome to Quill.

While growing up in Quill, if a child is caught singing, dancing, making up stories, or drawing in the dirt with a stick, they are reported to the government for an "infraction". They are then classified as Unwanted. Alex lived for 3 years with the knowledge that he was Unwanted and would be eliminated at thirteen. Wanteds are raised to be brutal and uncaring. Their goal is the success and protection of Quill. Unwanteds are forgotten the moment they are sent away for elimination.

Thanks to a man named Marcus Today, the Unwanteds are saved and taken to a place where they can flourish. Artime (there should be an accent over the 'e') is full of color, music, laughter, and happiness. Ideas, thoughts and creativity are not punished. Kids are taught to use magic with their talents, so they can paint themselves invisible, or put someone to sleep with a dramatic soliloquy. They are also trained to use their magical talents for defense and offense in case Artime is discovered by Quill. Mr. Today is exceedingly gentle with the Unwanteds, even when they don't exactly listen. He approaches things like I was taught growing up: nothing is wasted, even mistakes, if you learn from them.

Alex, Meghan, Lani and Samheed are all part of the current group of Unwanteds. When they get to Artime, the group must learn how to live without the strict confines of Quill. Some have more trouble than others letting go of the life they left behind, especially if they were raised to be Wanted until recently, like Samheed. Or the daughter of one of the Senior Governors of Quill, like Lani. I loved watching them all come to life and develop their abilities.

Lisa McMann has created an incredible world that is part dystopia, part fantasy. The creature in Artime are awesome, like winged tortoises, or a octogator (part octopus, part alligator). The stone sculptures are alive and watch over the kids, like Simber, a winged cheetah. They reminded me a little of some of the creature in The Neverending Story, and I was instantly absorbed into the atmosphere. Fans of Lisa McMann's Dream Cachers series will recognize the simplistic style of writing, although The Unwanteds has more description. Vivid description, but it doesn't bog you down with details. As a middle grade book, I think it's wonderful because kids won't be overwhelmed with too much information. It's very easy to imagine the scenes in Artime, and become swept up in the magic.

There is a giant battle scene toward the end, and there are some deaths. One in particular was a little harsh (highlight the next part to see: One of the General's deposits the dead body of his son at the gate of Artime. The son had snuck back in to take revenge on someone.) This was the only part that jumped out at me with regard to younger readers. Overall, this was a delightful book and I enjoyed reading it immensely. It struck a chord with me as an artist, especially Lisa McMann's inspiration for writing the novel. In a note to reader's, she explains that the idea developed when art and music were cut out of her kids' school. So something great came out of something terrible. I kind of hope a series develops out of this. If not, I'll deal with my disappointment, but it would be nice to watch the continuing journey of Artime and Quill.

For more about Lisa McMann and The Unwanteds, check out lisamcmann.com

TGIF at GReads!

2011-08-19T10:01:00.000-05:00

TGIF time!

TGIF is a weekly meme hosted by Ginger at GReads! Each week, Ginger asks her followers a question and gives up a re-cap of the past week's posts. This week's question:

The Reviews We Don't Write: Have you ever read a book and not wanted to review it? Are some books too personal that we want to keep our thoughts our own?

Another excellent question, Ginger!

Yes, there are books that I've read and not reviewed. When that happens, it's usually because something about the book has affected me on such a level that I can't seem to put into words what I want to say. A prime example would be The Mortal Instruments series by Casssandra Clare. I've attempted to review 2 books of the series, and I will not do that again. First, the posts were absolutely awful. I'm not even going to link you to them. If you want to read them that badly, you'll have to work for it. Second, my emotions run too high with these books. Sometimes that's a good thing. Some of my favorite reviews that I've done are of Libba Bray's Gemma Doyle series. (You can see all three here.) I was very involved emotionally in this series, but one a different level. I can't adequately describe it, but I know that as readers, you all understand what I'm trying to say.

What I do more often is avoid talking about certain aspects of a book's plot. I've been pretty personal in some posts one here. When that happens, it's because I hope that someone can gain something from my experience. However, there are still a lot of things that I'm not going to put out there. If I find something about a book affecting me in an area that I don't want the whole world to analyze, I will try to skirt around it in the post. If I can't avoid it, then that review probably isn't going to happen.

This is something I've actually had to reconcile with myself about. For awhile, I felt like I had to review every single book I read, no matter what my feelings were on it. I put way too much pressure on myself and felt guilty and it was a huge mess. Now, I'm perfectly fine with the fact that some things will remain mine, and mine alone.

Re-cap!

There's been a lot going on in my personal life this week (actually the last several weeks), but here is what's been happening on the blog.

Breathe by Abbi Glines
Tune in Tuesday - 90s Edition
The Help by Katherine Stockett

I hope everyone has a fabulous weekend!

The Help by Kathyrn Stockett

2011-08-17T00:00:00.000-05:00

Publisher: Amy Einhorn Books/Putnam
Publication Date: 02/10/09
Source: Personal Library

Three ordinary women are about to take one extraordinary step.

Twenty-two-year-old Skeeter has just returned home after graduating from Old Miss. She may have a degree, but it's 1962, Mississippi, and her mother will not be happy till Skeeter has a ring on her finger. Skeeter would normally find solace with her beloved maid, Constantine, the woman who raised her, but Constantine has disappeared and no one will tell Skeeter where she has gone.

Aibileen is a black maid, a wise, regal woman raising her seventeenth white child. Something has shifted inside her after the loss of her own son, who died while his bosses looked the other way. She is devoted to the little girls she looks after, though she knows both their hearts may be broken.

Minny, Aibileen's best friend, is short, fat, and perhaps the sassiest woman in Mississippi. She can cook like nobody's business, but she can't mind her tongue, so she's lost yet another job. Minny finally finds a posisiton working for someone too new to town to know her reputation. But her new boss has secrets of her own.

Seemingly as different from one another as can be, these women will nonetheless come together for a clandestine project that will put them all at risk. And why? Because they are suffocating wihtin the lines that define their town and their times. And sometimes lines are made to be crossed. (Summary taken from Goodreads.com)

I'm not sure how to start this review. Because I developed such a strong emotional attachment to the book, it's going to be hard to put it all into words. There's too much to try and summarize the whole this for you, besides the fact that it would completely spoil you. There are so many amazing characters that this would be the longest post ever for me to tell you about them all. I'll just jump in and see where it goes.

Three unlikely comrades come together to write a book about life from the perspective of black maids in 1960s Mississippi. To take on a project like this is to literally put your life on the line. During a time when a black person would be beaten blind for much less, Aibileen, Skeeter and Minny risk it all. Minny and Aibileen understand what they're risking, but Skeeter is slightly naive when she initiates the project. Skeeter is in for quite an education.

The characters in this book are absolutely wonderful. I want to carry Minny around in my purse so she can help me have the courage to speak up when I see things happen that I don't agree with. I would carry Skeeter for courage, too, as well as wisdom to know when to speak up. I would carry Aibileen with me to remind me to love unconditionally and spread the message of "you is kind, you is smart, you is important" to every child I meet. (Read the book and you'll know what I mean :P) Kathryn Stockett did such an amazing job bringing the voices of these women to life. The dialects alone are enough to blow anyone away. I swear my own accent got 10 times thicker when I was reading AIbileen's sections. These women truly come off the page. Especially Hilly, President of the Junior League and racist who doesn't think she's a racist because she doesn't burn crosses or beat people with pipes. But there are so many more ways to hurt people than the physical. Hilly had me feeling emotions I didn't know I had. Evil is so much worse when it's in a polite package.

It was so important for me to remember when I was reading that though this is a great fiction book, at the heart it's not fiction at all. In the last few days I've talked to people who had maids in their house, who knew people who really did put a separate bathroom outside for the help so they wouldn't catch diseases. As appalling as it seems to me, this was everyday life for so many people. There is so much about today's society that we take for granted. If you have a teenager, put this book in their hands to help bring history to life. I've read some reviews that feel like the book romanticised the period and events too much. I personally didn't feel like they were romanticised at all. If it had been a happy-go-lucky kind of book, then I would say yes. But this isn't that kind of read. Yes, it's entertaining, and downright hilarious at times. But it also brings forward the gravity of life for African Americans in the 1960s. Of course, you could also say what do I know because I'm a white female in 2011. The Help was extremely eye-opening for me, especially living in the South. It's like I knew how society was before the Civil Right movement, but at the same time, I didn't know at all.

I went to see the movie this afternoon (Tuesday), and I have to say, I was really impressed with how close they stayed to the book. Of course there were scenes that happen differently in the movie, and some that weren't even in the book. But I always try to keep in mind that it's an adaptation of the book, not a direct translation. So for a film adaptation, it was great. It was also just an awesome movie. The actors did a phenomenal job. My personal favorite, though it was something of a small part, was Sissy Spacek as Missus Walters. I'm cracking up just thinking about her. Just please do me a favor and read the book before you see the movie. It's worth it.

For more about Kathryn Stockett and The Help, check out her website: http://www.kathrynstockett.com/

Tune in Tuesday {9} - 90s Edition!

2011-08-16T00:15:00.000-05:00

Tune in Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by Ginger at GReads! It's designed to spread the love of music, and share some favorite songs. This is 90s Edition, celebrating all the fantastic songs from the 90s. I've been excited about posting this song for a week!

"How Do You Talk to an Angel" by The Heights

Did anyone else watch this show? I was probably way too young at the time, but my friend, Veronica, and I had been left to our own devices. And we were suckers for hot boys! I still catch myself randomly singing this song in odd places, like the canned vegetable aisle. I woke up with it in my head recently, too. Loving Tune in Tuesday 90s Edition!

Breathe by Abbi Glines

2011-08-14T02:39:00.001-05:00

Publisher: Wild Child Publishing

Publication Date: 05/16/11 (Kindle Edition)

Source: Received from Author

Sadie White's summer job isn't going to be on the beach life-guarding or working at rental booths like most kids her age. With her single mother's increasing pregnancy and refusal to work, Sadie has to take over her mother's job as a domestic servant for one of the wealthy summer families on a nearby island.

When the family arrive at their summer getaway, Sadie is surprised to learn that the owner of the house is Jax Stone, one of the hottest teen rockers in the world. If Sadie hadn't spent her life raising her mother and taking care of the house she might have been normal enough to be excited about work for a rock star.

Even though Sadie isn't impressed by Jax's fame, he is drawn to her. Everything about Sadie fascinates Jax but he fights his attraction. Relationship's never work in his world and as badly as he wants Sadie, he believes she deserves more. By the end of the summer, Jax discovers he can't breathe without Sadie.

But can their love overcome the disparity in their lifestyles? Or will they have to learn how to breathe without each other again?

Welcome to day 14 of the Breathe Blog Tour, hosted by YA Bound! Make sure you read the whole post to find out about the GIVEAWAY!

I enjoyed reading this book so much! Sadie's life is totally a Cinderella story. At work, she cooks and cleans and then goes home to her mother, Jessica, and does the same for her. She's always had to take care of someone and never had anyone take care of her. Jessica is one of those infuriating mothers who doesn't really take an active role in their kids life. When Jessica does seem to take notice, or worry about Sadie, it's usually because she's more concerned about how it will affect her. I seriously wanted to slap Jessica to next Tuesday.

When Jax comes into Sadie's life, he offers her the chance to be taken care of. Marcus, one of Sadie's co-workers and friends, wants to do the same thing. Unfortunately for Marcus, Sadie is drawn to Jax, no matter how much she tries to resist it. One thing I love about Sadie is that she could care less that Jax is a rock star when she meets him. She's never willingly listened to one of his songs, which seriously throws him off his game. While their relationship is of the insta-love variety, I really do love the way it develops. Jax is so sweet to Sadie and would give her the moon if she asked. (She's not the type that would, though.)

Let's take a moment to talk about Marcus. Oh, Marcus. He's such a sweet, down to earth guy who cares about Sadie so much. His attention is what prompts Jax to put aside his misgivings about a relationship with Sadie and make a move. Even though Sadie chooses Jax, Marcus is a true friend to her throughout the book, especially when things go pear-shaped. I'm hopelessly in love with Marcus. Nice Southern boy. Good heart. Truck. *sighs dreamily*

After Jessica has her baby, she deals with a severe case of post-partum depression. You get to see the down and dirty details of how it affects Sadie and the baby. It draws attention to something that is a very serious problem in real life and that people deal with all the time. If you've read any of my reviews before, you know that I love when authors draw attention to things like this. If you're new here, well....now you know. :) It wasn't the most major of plot points, but it had a big impact on me.

I will say that I was a little distracted by how formal the dialogue was in the beginning. It was mainly between Jax and Sadie that I noticed it. It occurred to me later that this was probably Jax's attempts at impressing Sadie, but I was really distracted by it. Not for long, though. Once I got into the story, I either stopped noticing it, or the dialogue was more relaxed. It also didn't keep me from absolutely LOVING this book!

It was so nice to read about an area that's practically home for me (I live in Pensacola, FL and the setting of the story is less than an hour from me). The characters in this story pulled me in and I was sad to leave them. I really wanted to see more of Jax and Sadie's relationship, but I knew the book had to end somewhere! I also wanted more of Marcus. I'm really excited to see what else Abbi Glines comes up with in later books, and am so looking forward to Existence!

For more about Abbi Glines, Breathe, and her next book, Existence, please check out her website.

Thanks to Trish at YA Bound for the opportunity to be part of this blog tour, and Abbi for writing such a fantastic book!

GIVEAWAY TIME!!

One lucky commenter of this post, or my interview with Abbi, will have the chance to win an ebook copy of Breathe! No following necessary (however, if you like what you see and want to stick around, I won't complain), just leave a comment with your email address.

Make sure you check out the tour schedule at YA Bound and comment on each blog for the chance to win the GRAND PRIZE!

A Barnes and Noble gift card!

And a , cooler, beach towel, beach bag, frizbee, and Breathe water bottle!

Don't forget to check out the Breathe book trailer, too!

Thanks for stopping by and let me know what you think in the comments!

TGIF at GReads! {13}

2011-08-11T23:33:00.001-05:00

TGIF is a weekly meme hosted by Ginger at GReads! Each week, Ginger asks a question for her followers to answer and link up. It's also a chance to provide a re-cap of the past week's posts. It's a great way for bloggers to get to know one another a little more. This week:

Author Block Party: If you could gather a handful of authors to hang out with, who would you choose?

First, I must compliment Ginger on her questions! The last several weeks have been awesome. A little hard to answer, but that's part of what makes them great.

Alright, on to the list*. How big are these hands, by the way?

Libba Bray and Maureen Johnson, because I love their writing styles and think they would be a blast to hang out with. From what I've seen and heard from others, I would never stop laughing.

John Green because he's nerdfigtastic and his books always get me right in the heart. I would love to hang out with him because he's so passionate and, well, have you seen any of his videos? If not, check out his romance advice. Or how to properly drop insults (classic Vlogbrothers!).

Cassie Clare because her writing blows me away and I admire her so much. This would only work if I could get over my fangirling and actually form words. I like to think that I'd be able to.

Stephanie Perkins because her writing helped me get out of a serious reading slump. She's another author that I admire so much for her ability to put so much emotion, personality and passion on the page.

I'm going to be a super-nerd here and throw in a couple dead authors. Just because I can.

L.M. Montgomery because her books have made such a difference in my life and I'd like to know what kind of person she was.

Jane Austen because I think she's magnificent.

*It's very late and I've been chasing 30 kids for 4 days now. I'd like to reserve the right to add to this at any point tomorrow. Not that I'll have time then, either. It could happen, though.

Weekly Re-Cap!

A little lean this week, but it's been craziness over here! I'm ready to be a little less busy!

Wildefire by Karsten Knight

Tune in Tuesday {8} - 90s Edition

Wake by Lisa McMann

Did you all see my author interview with Abbi Glines last week? Did I mention there's GIVEAWAY of Breathe associated with that post?

Also, please check out the Breathe Blog Tour schedule at YA Bound. Be sure to comment on all the blogs of the GRAND PRIZE!

Wake by Lisa McMann

2011-08-10T00:15:00.000-05:00

Publisher: Simon Pulse
Publication Date: 03/24/08
Source: Personal Library

For seventeen-year-old Janie, getting sucked into other people's dreams is getting old. Especially the falling dreams, the naked-but-nobody-notices dreams, and the sex-crazed dreams. Janie's seen enough fantasy booty to last her a lifetime.

She can't tell anybody about what she does; they'd never believe her, or worse, they'd think she's a freak. So Janie lives on the fringe, cursed with an ability she doesn't want and can't control.

Then she falls into a gruesome nightmare, one that chills her to the bone. For the first time, Janie is more than a witness to someone else's twisted psyche. She is a participant.

This is one of those books where I kicked myself for not having read it sooner. If I'd read it sooner, I could have been pushing it onto other people for at least a couple of years!

Janie is just your average 17-year-old, except for that pesky little ability of being sucked into people's dreams. No biggie, she just blacks out, starts to go a little numb, and looks like she's having a seizure. Lisa McMann takes you through Janie' history with her ability, starting when she's a kid and had her first experience. Over the years, she's learned the warning signs, and has even started to develop the ability to pull out of them. Sometimes. No one else knows of her special talent until she goes on an overnight school trip. On a bus full of sleepy teenagers. Luckily, the handsome and somewhat mysterious Cabel Strumheller is there to help her through, even though it scares him out of his mind to see her like that.

I love the way Lisa McMann takes you back through Janie's life so you can learn about her family, friends, and development of her "ability". You start with a little taste of how it is now, and then travel back to the first time Janie gets sucked into a dream. You watch her make friends, learn to live with an alcoholic mother, and come to grips with this ability that makes her life so much more complicated.

What I love about Janie is that she's not going to take any kind of crap sitting down. She's going to tell it like it is and call you on your bull. She's such a great character to read. I love Lisa McMann's writing style, also. It's simple and direct, getting straight to the point. It reads quickly, but it's so enjoyable!

My favorite parts of the books were Janie's interactions with Cabel. *swoony sigh* It's not an insta-love situation, which made me very happy. it develops slowly over time. You get to watch their relationship from the very first time they meet, and it's not something Janie's expecting. I'm in love with Cabe, even with all his faults, and would really like one of my very own to carry in my pocket.

Whenever a book makes it onto my All Time Favs list (which this one did) I seem to have a hard time putting my thoughts onto the blog. I think my post on Fade will have a little more flesh to it than this one. I'm stuck between wanting to finish the series right now and waiting a little to read Gone so that it will last longer. I do this every time. I've fallen in love with these characters and don't want to let them go, even though I know full well I can re-read the series any time I want.

Tune in Tuesday {8} - 90s Edition!

2011-08-09T20:22:00.002-05:00

Tune in Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by Ginger at GReads! Each week, we share a song that we love, and spread the love of music. Look! A graphic! Only because Ginger has a new one for 90s Edition. My computer is currently having the motherboard reaplaced. I'm a little late getting the post up, but it's Bible School week and things are a little nuts.

"Where's the Love" by Hanson

My boys!!! You say 90s, I say HANSON! Actually, you say almost anything, I say Hanson. I was wild about these boys, starting in 8th grade. Who am I kidding, I'm still wild about them! I had their pictures from Bop and BB (anyone else get those magazines and plaster their walls?) all over my room. I harbored strong feelings for Isaac Hanson. Holy cow, this brings back so many memories! I still rock out to songs from this album in my car, especially when I'm having a bad day.

What other 90s bands were some of my favs? Come back next week and find out!

Hope everyone's having a good week so far.

Wildefire by Karsten Knight

2011-08-07T23:12:00.000-05:00

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
Publicaiton Date: 07/26/11
Source: Simon & Schuster Galley Grab and Personal Library (Had to have my own copy!)

Every flame begins with a spark.

Ashline Wilde is having a rough sophomore year. She's struggling to find her place as the only Polynesian girl in school, her boyfriend just cheated on her, and now her runaway sister, Eve, has decided to barge back into her life. When Eve's violent behavior escalates and she does the unthinkable, Ash transfers to a remote private school nestled in California's redwoods, hoping to put the tragedy behind her. But her fresh start at Blackwood Academy doesn't go as planned. Just as Ash is beginning to enjoy the perks of her new school - being captain of the tennis team, a steamy romance with a hot, local park ranger - Ash discovers that a group of gods and goddesses have mysteriously enrolled at Blackwood...and she's one of them. To make matters worse, Eve has resurfaced to haunt Ash, and she's got some strange abilities of her own. With a war between the gods looking over campus, Ash must master the new fire smoldering within before she clashed with her sister one more time...And when warm and cold fronts collide, there's guaranteed to be a storm.

Holy shitbuckets. This book absolutely blew me away. (Pardon my word choice. I can't seem to say anything else besides that about this book.)

When you first meet Ashline, she's in the process of beating the crap out of the girl who just made out with her boyfriend. She's not exactly thrilled. When her sister, Eve, shows up, things just go from back to worse. When she is given the chance to start over at Blackwood Academy, where no one knows what happened back in Scarsdale, Ash jumps at the opportunity. New environment, new friends, new life. While out with friends one night, Ash hears someone screaming. The weird thing is that no one else seems to notice except 4 other people in the bar. Shortly thereafter, the group discovers that they were drawn to Blackwood by a siren, Serena, who was instructed to call them together. The group discovers that each have powers that can be both beautiful and destructive.

Instead of focusing on one type of mythology, Karsten Knight draws from all different cultures: Greek, Norse, Egyptian, Japanese, and Polynesian. While you don't go as in depth on one culture, you're exposed to some you might not know a lot about. I personally love mythology, but have only looked at the well known ones, like Greek and Egyptian. Japanese and Polynesian? I'm a blank slate. And I was learning about the gods and goddesses right along with the characters. They don't arrive knowing their identities (aside from their mortal ones, I mean) and are "named" by Serena. Ashline is the only one who isn't "named" right away. She goes through a large portion of the book trying to piece together her heritage.

I will warn you that there is quite a bit of violence throughout the book. I wasn't put off by this at all and thought that it went along with the characters. Ashline is a volcano goddess, and as such, bound to be more than a little volatile. I've read some reviews where people were unhappy with it, especially being a book for teens, but I've seen a lot worse on the big screen. Personally, I'd rather read about it and form my own, toned-down, image of what's happening. Any scenes with violence seemed to fit with the storyline and the characters involved. I'm mentioning it because it seemed to be a big deal to so many people. It really wasn't to me.

I was completely absorbed in the story and love Karsten's writing style. He had me cracking up, which was nice because the book does get pretty serious at times. There was a nice balance between heavy and light. And twists and turns galore! Bottom line: once I started the book, I could not put it down. And the ending freaking blasted me across the room. I'm going to need a sequel right now. You hear that, Karsten? Right. Now. *begins waiting with very little patience*

TGIF at GReads! {12}

2011-08-04T23:55:00.000-05:00

Happy Friday! TGIF is a weekly meme hosted by Ginger at GReads! Each week, Ginger gives a recap of the week's posts and asks a question for her followers to answer and link up. It's a great chance to get to know other bloggers more. (Still without my computer, and thus, still no graphic.)

Taking it Personal: Which books affected you on a personal level and lingered in your mind long after you closed the pages?

Oh my gosh. So many.

Harry Potter is a big one, but I'm going to refer you to this post here for that story.

Many of Jane Austen's books have stuck with me, but the one that affected me the most was Persuasion. The book is about second chances, and I love that the heroine gets her chance. It inspires me to never give up about anything, even when I think it's to late. To act instead of sitting by the sidelines.

I've talked about the Anne of Green Gables series before, so I hope this isn't redundant, but I can't answer this question without mentioning it. Re-reading these books is like coming home for me. Anne Shirley gave me courage when I was a kid, and comfort as an adult. Anne makes so many mistakes throughout her life, but always come through on the other side better for having the experience. My Dad always tells me that no experience is wasted if I learn from it, and that's what Anne does every time.

Cassandra Clare's Mortal Instruments series has become very personal to me as well. I've attempted to write reviews on a couple of the books, but they stink. I actually can't put my feelings about these books into words. They affect me on a level that not many other books have. At the heart of these books is the strength of the family you choose and the power of love.

Weekly Recap!!!

In My Mailbox + BREATHE Blog Tour

Mondays Bite: Twilight Re-read Along Part 5

Tune in Tuesday {7} - "Mr. Brightside" by The Killers

Love Story by Jennifer Echols

BREATHE Blog Tour - Author Interview with Abbi Glines (and GIVEAWAY)

Surrounded By Words

TGIF at GReads! {28}

Tune in Tuesday {23}

Cover Reveal: Predestined (Existence #2) by Abbi Glines

Tune In Tuesday {22}

2011 Reading Wrap-Up

John Green Week {Day Two}

John Green Week: Jan. 3rd - 10th {Day One}

TGIF at GReads! {27}

Tune in Tuesday {21} - Concert Edition

Scott Pilgrim Rocks My World

TGIF at GReads! {26}

Existence by Abbi Glines

TGIF at GReads! {25}

More Reading Challenges!

Tune in Tuesday {20} - Concert Edition!

25 Days of Jubilation + GIVEAWAY

Tune in Tuesday {19}

The Name of the Star (Shades of London #1) by Maureen Johnson

In My Mailbox {6}

The Vincent Boys Giveaway Winner!

TGIF at GReads! {24}

Wisdom's Kiss by Catherine Gilbert Murdock

Tune In Tuesday {18}

Forget You by Jennifer Echols

In My Mailbox {5}

TGIF at GReads! {22}

Just Contemporary: A Love/Hate Relationship

The Vincent Boys Blog Tour - Character This or That with Ashton + GIVEAWAY

Tune in Tuesday {17}

Going Too Far by Jennifer Echols

2012 Debut Author Challenge

TGIF at GReads {21}

Tune In Tuesday {16}

A Discovery of Witches (All Souls Trilogy #1) by Deborah Harkness

In My Mailbox {4}

TGIF at GReads! {20}

Vacation, All I Ever Wanted!

Tune in Tuesday {15} - Soundtrack Edition!

Divergent by Veronica Roth

TGIF at GReads! {19}

My Favorite Words

The Vincent Boys by Abbi Glines

Tune in Tuesday {14} - Soundtrack Edition!

Goliath (Leviathan #3) by Scott Westerfeld

TGIF at GReads {18}

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

Behemoth (Leviathan #2) by Scott Westerfeld

Tune in Tuesday {13} - Soundtrack Edition

TGIF at GReads! {17}

Preoccupations

Tune in Tuesday {12}

Tune in Tuesday {11}

Drink, Slay, Love by Sarah Beth Durst

R.A.K. - August Wrap-Up and September Sign-Up!

Damage Control by Denise Hamilton

TGIF at GReads! {16}

Born of Night (The League #1) by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Ultraviolet by R. J. Anderson

Tune in Tuesday {11} - 90s Edition

Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld

Fade by Lisa McMann

TGIF at GReads! {15}

Tune in Tuesday {10} - 90s Edition!

The Unwanteds by Lisa McMann

TGIF at GReads!

The Help by Kathyrn Stockett

Tune in Tuesday {9} - 90s Edition!

Breathe by Abbi Glines

TGIF at GReads! {13}

Wake by Lisa McMann

Tune in Tuesday {8} - 90s Edition!

Wildefire by Karsten Knight

TGIF at GReads! {12}